PRAGUE, July 26 (Reuters) - Central Europe's currencies

pushed higher for a second straight day, although the Hungarian

forint was set for its first weekly loss in six weeks and the

Czech crown was just off a multi-month low as interest rate cuts

stay in focus.

The forint fell this week after Hungary's central bank

delivered a 15th successive rate cut and said more could come

this year.

Focus is turning to the Czech central bank, which meets next

week and markets are weighing whether it will slow the pace of

its easing cycle as signalled previously.

The forint had gained 0.2% on the day by 0857 GMT,

trading at 391.50 to the euro. It has fallen from the 390 level

this week.

"EUR/HUF could take a breather and stabilize for a while if

HUF rates don't follow the core market today. However, we remain

on the bearish side with more fair levels at 394 and higher,"

ING said.

A slowdown in the Czech rate-cutting cycle to 25-basis-point

steps could help the crown next week, Komercni Banka analysts

said.

The crown inched up 0.1% to 25.378 per euro after

touching its lowest since February at 25.453 this week.

In Poland, the zloty has fared better than peers this year

with a 1.5% gain so far in 2024 as the central bank there has

held interest rates steady.

The zloty was up 0.2% at 4.279 to the euro and is

set to take cues from global sentiment, which was on stronger

footing.

U.S. economic data from overnight gave some cause for

optimism, with economic growth faster than expected in the

second quarter and inflation cooling. That helped dispel worries

that the expansion was in danger of an abrupt end, while also

supporting wagers for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in

September.

Bank Millennium said the data would support the euro/dollar

- with the euro the main reference currency in central Europe -

and "consequently also the zloty and other currencies in our

region" amid lower liquidity amid the holiday season.

CEE SNAPSHOT AT

MARKETS 1057

CET

CURRENCIES

Latest Previo Daily Change

us

trade close change in 2024

Czech 0

Hungary 00

Polish Romania Serbian 00

Note: calcula 1800 CET

daily ted

change from

Latest Previo Daily Change

us

close change in 2024

Prague 1604.88 1600.3 +0.28% +13.50

600 %

Budapes 73187.29 72745. +0.61% +20.73

t 29 %

Warsaw 3

Buchare 18550.19 18448. +0.55% +20.68

st 45 %

Spread Daily

vs Bund change

in

Czech spread

Republi

c

0

Poland

0

0

0

FORWARD RATE

AGREEMENTS

3x6 6x9 9x12 3M

interba

nk

Czech Hungary Poland Note: are for

FRA ask

quotes prices

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