By Anita Komuves

BUDAPEST, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Central European currencies

strengthened against the euro on Friday, with the Hungarian

forint leading the gains due to continued support from

higher-than-expected July inflation data that dampened rate cut

expectations, analysts said.

The forint was 0.23% stronger versus the euro,

building on its gains in the previous session following the

release of last month's consumer price data and the posting of a

budget surplus that also exceeded market expectations.

"After (CPI) data were published, the forint started to

strengthen as rate cut expectations were lowered," brokerage

Equilor said in a note.

Hungary's headline inflation rose to an annual 4.1% in July,

and core inflation accelerated to 4.7%, Thursday's data showed.

"Still, the market is pricing in at least three cuts or even

a little more than that with a chance we could see some movement

this month," ING wrote in a note.

"That said, our economists say the inflation numbers do not

strongly point to a rate cut in August and see room for only two

more reductions this year."

The National Bank of Hungary cut its borrowing costs

by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.75% in July.

Elsewhere, the Czech crown added 0.22% and was

trading at 25.219 to the euro while the Polish zloty

was little moved at 4.3235 versus the common currency.

Most stocks in the region were higher, with Budapest's

equities index adding 0.25%.

Hungary's OTP Bank outperformed the wider market

and was up 0.33% by 0901 GMT after the company reported a 268

billion forint ($740 million) consolidated profit after tax for

the second quarter, slightly above analyst expectations.

Hungarian energy company MOL added 0.15% by 0906

GMT after it posted a quarterly net profit of 165 billion

forints ($455.6 million) and reiterated its 2024 guidance.

CEE SNAPSH AT

MARKETS OT 1132

CET

CURREN

CIES

Latest Previou Daily Chang

s e

trade close chang in

e 2024

EURCZK= Czech 0 2% %

EURHUF= Hungary 00 0 3% %

EURPLN= Polish 6% 6%

EURRON= Romanian 1% %

EURRSD= Serbian 00 0 8% 7%

Note: calculat 1800

daily ed from CET

change

Latest Previou Daily Chang

s e

close chang in

e 2024

.PX Prague 1560.9 1553.70 +0.4 +10.

1 00 6% 39%

.BUX Budapest 72105. 71925.8 +0.2 +18.

77 2 5% 95%

.WIG20 Warsaw 2281.6 2264.10 +0.7 -2.62

9 8% %

.BETI Buchares 17870. 17880.2 -0.06 +16.

t 06 2 % 26%

Sprea Daily

d

vs chang

Bund e in

Czech sprea

Republic d

CZ2YT=R 2-year bps

CZ5YT=R 5-year bps s

CZ10YT= bps s

Poland

PL2YT=R 2-year bps s

PL5YT=R 5-year bps

PL10YT= bps

FORWARD RATE

AGREEMENTS

3x6 6x9 9x12 3M

inter

bank

Czech 3.90 3.52 3.32 4.43

Rep Hungary 6.70 6.22 5.78 6.55

Poland 5.68 5.36 4.90 5.85

Note: are for ask

FRA prices

quotes

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($1 = 362.1600 forints)