(Changes dateline, updates with forint low, trader quote,
Polish rate decision)
BUDAPEST, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The Hungarian forint fell to
its weakest against the euro in 18 months on Wednesday as
tensions in the Middle East made investors risk-averse, hitting
central Europe's currencies.
The zloty, the best performer in the region this year,
also eased as the Polish central bank left its base rate
unchanged, as expected, with inflation inching upward.
In Hungary, the forint fell past the psychological
level of 400 and traded down 0.6% at 400.45 per euro at 1328
GMT.
"There is a general negative mood in markets due to what
is happening in the Middle East, and investors will watch if it
escalates further. Global events and the strength of the dollar
determine everything now," an FX trader in Budapest said.
"And the forint is always the weakest link in central
Europe."
The dollar held on to its biggest gains in a week on
Wednesday after an Iranian missile attack on Israel.
Elsewhere, the Czech crown was 0.3% lower to
the euro at 25.364 to the euro, sitting around lows from early
August.
Falling interest rates in Hungary and the Czech Republic
have put pressure on those countries' currencies, while the
zloty has been supported as the Polish central bank paused rate
cuts for the past year.
The zloty is still within sight of multi-year highs hit
earlier this year.
The zloty was 0.1% weaker at 4.296 against the
euro, nearing the psychological 4.30 level it has remained below
since mid-September.
CEE SNAPSHOT AT
MARKETS 1528
CET
CURRENCIES
Latest Previo Daily Change
us
trade close change in 2024
Czech 0
Hungary 00
Polish Romania Serbian 00
Note: calculated from 1800 CET
daily
change
Latest Previo Daily Change
us
close change in 2024
Prague 1597.70 1604.5 -0.43% +12.99
300 %
Budapes 73148.81 74189. -1.40% +20.67
t 72 %
Warsaw 6
Buchare 17448.31 17568. -0.68% +13.51
st 14 %
Spread Daily
vs Bund change
in
Czech spread
Republi
c
0
Poland
0
FORWARD RATE
AGREEMENTS
3x6 6x9 9x12 3M
interba
nk
Czech Hungary Poland Note: are for ask prices
FRA
quotes
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