Currencies steady as Hungary central bank set to pause after 15 rate cuts
By Boldizsar Gyori
BUDAPEST, Aug 27 (Reuters) -Central European currencies were little changed on Tuesday ahead of a Hungarian central bank rate decision likely delivering the first pause in its policy easing after more than a year.
Hungary's central bank is expected to pause its easing cycle on Tuesday after 15 consecutive rate cuts beginning in May 2023, cautioned by Hungarian headline inflation HUCPIY=ECI rising to an annual 4.1% in July from 3.7% in June, with core inflation HUCPIC=ECI also accelerating.
Headline inflation peaked at 25% in early 2023.
Eleven out of 15 economists surveyed expected the European Union's highest benchmark rate to stay on hold on Aug. 27, keeping its base rate at 6.75%, and four expected a 25 bp cut, a Reuters poll showed.
Hungary's forint EURHUF= traded at 394.5 by 0759 GMT to the euro.
Analysts were weighing a dovish Fed and a weaker-than-expected Hungarian Q2 GDP reading to the central bank's communication which signaled a likely pause at its upcoming meeting.
"Hungary’s inflation data have not been impressive... at the same time, Q2 GDP was a disappointment; and conditions have got more dovish in the more developed countries... It may therefore make sense to implement any remaining rate cuts," Commerzbank said in a note.
"On balance, we lean towards no change. This is because EUR-HUF has returned to near 395.0," it said.
Hungary's central bank is scheduled to announce its decision at 1400 CET (1200 GMT) followed by a statement and press conference from 1500 CET (1300 GMT).
Elsewhere in the region, the crown hung around the psychological 25 per euro level, which it weakened past at the end of June.
Bank CSOB said it was unlikely to make a strong push to firm past the level.
"The reason is the stabilization of the eurodollar combined with worse sentiment in the domestic economy," bank CSOB said, following data on Monday showing consumer confidence was lower for a fourth straight month.
The Polish zloty EURPLN= traded at 4.28, with analysts expecting it to remain there with a slight chance of weakening but remaining in the range of 4.24 - 4.31.
CEE MARKETS | SNAPSHOT | AT 0959 CET | ||||
CURRENCIES | ||||||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | |||
trade | close | change | in 2024 | |||
EURCZK= | Czech crown | EURCZK= | 25.0550 | 25.0410 | -0.06% | -1.41% |
EURHUF= | Hungary forint | EURHUF= | 394.5000 | 394.5500 | +0.01% | -2.87% |
EURPLN= | Polish zloty | EURPLN= | 4.2825 | 4.2835 | +0.02% | +1.45% |
EURRON= | Romanian leu | EURRON= | 4.9762 | 4.9765 | +0.01% | -0.04% |
EURRSD= | Serbian dinar | EURRSD= | 117.0100 | 117.0400 | +0.03% | +0.20% |
Note: daily change | calculated from | 1800 CET | ||||
Latest | Previous | Daily | Change | |||
close | change | in 2024 | ||||
.PX | Prague | .PX | 1585.40 | 1585.8100 | -0.03% | +12.12% |
.BUX | Budapest | .BUX | 73092.38 | 73467.13 | -0.51% | +20.57% |
.WIG20 | Warsaw | .WIG20 | 2393.94 | 2395.38 | -0.06% | +2.17% |
.BETI | Bucharest | .BETI | 18400.69 | 18452.97 | -0.28% | +19.71% |
Spread | Daily | |||||
vs Bund | change in | |||||
Czech Republic | spread | |||||
CZ2YT=RR | 2-year | CZ2YT=RR | 3.3680 | 0.0090 | +098bps | +1bps |
CZ5YT=RR | 5-year | CZ5YT=RR | 3.4950 | 0.0100 | +134bps | +1bps |
CZ10YT=RR | 10-year | CZ10YT=RR | 3.7600 | 0.0180 | +151bps | +2bps |
Poland | ||||||
PL2YT=RR | 2-year | PL2YT=RR | 4.8590 | 0.0150 | +247bps | +2bps |
PL5YT=RR | 5-year | PL5YT=RR | 5.1080 | 0.0280 | +295bps | +3bps |
PL10YT=RR | 10-year | PL10YT=RR | 5.3620 | 0.0100 | +312bps | +1bps |
FORWARD RATE AGREEMENTS | ||||||
3x6 | 6x9 | 9x12 | 3M interbank | |||
Czech Rep | CZKFRAPRIBOR= | 3.92 | 3.55 | 3.29 | 4.40 | |
Hungary | HUFFRABUBOR= | 6.63 | 6.23 | 5.84 | 6.53 | |
Poland | PLNFRAWIBOR= | 5.73 | 5.40 | 4.93 | 5.85 | |
Note: FRA quotes | are for ask prices | |||||
************************************************************** |
Reporting by Boldizsár Győri in Budapest, Jason Hovet in Prague and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw; Editing by Bernadette Baum
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