PRAGUE, June 3 (Reuters) - Central European currencies eased
on Thursday, pressured by a firmer dollar as markets awaited
this week"s key U.S. jobs data, while Budapest stocks approached
an all-time high.
Budapest"s BUX index hit a record peak on Tuesday,
propelled by OTP shares, which also touched all-time
highs after the bank said it would acquire Slovenia"s Nova KBM
bank.
Central European stock markets have jumped to multi-year
highs this year on hopes of an economic recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic, with Budapest up almost 12% since the start
of the year.
Prague has gained 14% this year, led by utility CEZ
whose hefty dividend plan has attracted investors. CEZ
shares hit a fresh six-year high on Thursday.
Polish markets were closed for a holiday.
Currencies have also been firming this year, with markets
seeing interest rate hikes coming in the Czech Republic and
Hungary as inflation pressures build amid the recovery.
The Hungarian forint was down 0.1% at 346.40 to
the euro at 0855 GMT, after hitting a 9-1/2-month high in the
previous session.
The Czech crown, which hit a 14-month high in May
before weakening somewhat, was flat at 25.45 per euro. The
Polish zloty and Romania"s leu were also
little changed.
Market focus was on U.S. economic data, which could set the
tone for upcoming global central bank meetings.
A weekly U.S. unemployment report and May private payrolls
data on Thursday will be followed by monthly jobs numbers on
Friday, with investors looking for signs of an economic rebound
and rising inflation.
"Like all global markets, the crown is waiting on Friday"s
(U.S.) payrolls result," bank CSOB said in a trading note.
"Czech wage data for the first quarter will also be
important on Friday. It will undoubtedly be an important piece
of the puzzle for the Czech National Bank."
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