WARSAW, July 8 (Reuters) -The zloty firmed on Monday to a one-month high, outperforming peers in central Europe, as the prospect of stable interest rates for longer and a weaker dollar boost the Polish currency.

Hungary's forint saw renewed pressure, as Budapest laid out government plans seeking a "defence contribution" from banks, energy firms, and multinational companies.

Last week, National Bank of Poland governor Adam Glapinski said interest-rate cuts would not happen before 2026 as inflation is expected to accelerate following the July no-change decision by rate-setters for a ninth straight month.

In June, Glapinski had expressed hopes that easing could begin in the mid-2025.

By 0916 GMT, the Polish zloty EURPLN= was up 0.2% to the euro at 4.2770, a touch off of its strongest standing in over a month hit earlier in the day.

"The EUR/PLN pair has a significant chance of reaching the area of ​​4.25 quite quickly", ING analysts wrote, indicating that this could happen within "a week or two".

The zloty had traded stronger than 4.25 per euro in May, posting four-year highs.

"The weaker dollar and the unexpected tightening of the NBP's rhetoric, which dampens expectations for any rate cuts this year or even in 2025, help (the zloty)," ING said.

ING analysts said they expect investors to re-open carry-trade positions in Poland, but pointed at geopolitical worries related to the U.S. presidential election as a risk factor.

The Czech crown EURCZK= held steady at 25.1630 per euro, within its narrow range since the beginning of July, after falling from five-month highs in early June.

"CNB (Czech National Bank) has cut the rate by more than expected even while highlighting upside risk to inflation during H2," Commerzbank said in a report.

"This confirmed a less hawkish 'reaction function' under governor Ales Michl which will likely weigh on crown valuation over the coming year."

Minutes from the CNB's late-June policy meeting, released on Monday, quoted governor Ales Michl as saying that at coming meetings the board should discuss the option of slowing the decline in rates or stabilising rates for some time.

Czech rate-setters cut borrowing costs more than expected last month, but signalled a likely slowdown in the pace of easing amid lingering inflation pressures.

Meanwhile the forint EURHUF= retreated 0.5% to 394.30 per euro from its strongest level in nearly a month, seen on Friday.

Markets are waiting for Juneinflation data, with a Reuters poll consensus expecting the pace of consumer price growth and core CPI growth to remainunchanged at 4.00%.

In mid June, Hungary's central bankers conducted their smallest rate cut in the 14-month-old easing cycle and said the scope for more easing in the second half would be extremely narrow.

"The forint firmed below 392 in the morning, and the started to weaken ... when the government presser started, so it could be reacting to the new higher tax on banks," an FX trader in Budapest said.

"At the same time, we could also say that it firmed as far as it could and then we see a correction because it weakened as fast as it firmed before. Liquidity is very low, it is July, and this causes bigger swings. Also, everyone is looking ahead to CPI data tomorrow."

Reporting by Karol Badohal in Warsaw, Jason Hovet in Prague, Anita Komuves and Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest; Editing by Arun Koyyur

For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets:
All emerging market news EMRG CEEU CEE/

Spot FX rates
Eastern Europe spot FX EEFX= Middle East spot FX MEFX=
Asia spot FX ASIAFX= Latin America spot FX LATAMFX=

Other news and reports
World central bank news CEN Economic Data Guide ECONGUIDE
Official rates GLOBAL/INT Emerging Diary EMRG/DIARY
Top events M/DIARY Diaries DIARY Diaries Index IND/DIARY