WARSAW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The crown slipped further to
a more than 15-month low on Thursday, going into a Czech central
bank meeting next week that could deliver an interest rate cut,
while the forint and zloty firmed as markets await core market
data.
    Markets see chances the Czech National Bank (CNB) will begin
an easing cycle, following peers in Hungary and Poland, when it
meets in a week.
    "There is uncertainty in the market," Generali Investments
CEE economist Radomir Jac said.
    "There is a good chance that the CNB may start cutting rates
and the market can be a bit nervous, although it is quite clear
that the Czech central bank would be cutting rates in small
steps, i.e., at a much slower pace than in Hungary and Poland."
    Policymaker Tomas Holub told Reuters on Wednesday that
central bankers faced a dilemma whether to start easing this
year or wait for indications of price markups in January and
then possibly cut faster.
    "The crown is a bit nervous. (Central banker) comments are
not clear so it keeps CZK weak nowadays," a trader said.

By 0943 GMT, the crown was down 0.1% at 24.72 per
euro, off a low of 24.738.
    Meanwhile, the Hungarian forint firmed 0.4% to
383.40, staying parked off an eight-week high hit this week.
    "Lacking domestic data, the forint is moved by international
events, i.e. whether the 10-year U.S. bond yield breaks through
the 5% (level) today, which would strengthen the dollar, thus
weakening the forint," a Budapest-based trader said. 
    "Another event investors will closely watch is the ECB's
(European Central Bank) rate decision, which is widely expected
to be a hold." 
    On stock markets, shares in the biggest Hungarian bank, OTP
, corrected 1% on Thursday after rallying on Wednesday
following news the government was launching a new subsidised
housing loan for families. 
    Elsewhere, the Polish zloty firmed 0.2% to 4.468,
with some analysts saying U.S. GDP data later could give a fresh
impulse, with the currency gradually easing since a
post-election bounce in mid-October.
    
            CEE        SNAPSHOT   AT                         
            MARKETS              1143 CET            
                       CURRENCI                              
                       ES                            
                       Latest    Previous  Daily     Change
                       bid       close     change    in 2023
 Czech                  24.7200   24.7080    -0.05%    -2.27%
 crown                                               
 Hungary               383.4000  384.9000    +0.39%    +4.18%
 forint                                              
 Polish                  4.4680    4.4780    +0.22%    +4.96%
 zloty                                               
 Romanian                4.9633    4.9602    -0.06%    -0.42%
 leu                                                 
 Serbian               117.0400  117.1400    +0.09%    +0.22%
 dinar                                               
 Note:      calculated from                1800 CET          
 daily                                               
 change                                              
                                                             
                       Latest    Previous  Daily     Change
                                 close     change    in 2023
 Prague                 1344.15  1345.670    -0.11%   +11.85%
                                        0            
 Budapest              56668.76  56909.30    -0.42%   +29.40%
 Warsaw                 2103.39   2096.22    +0.34%   +17.38%
 Bucharest             14197.96  14211.21    -0.09%   +21.73%
                                                             
                                           Spread    Daily
                                           vs Bund   change
                                                     in
 Czech                                               spread
 Republic                                            
   2-year                                           
   5-year                                           
   10-year                                         
 Poland                                                      
   2-year                                           
   5-year                                           
   10-year                                         
            FORWARD                                          
                       3x6       6x9       9x12      3M
                                                     interban
                                                     k
 Czech Rep          <      6.48      5.55      4.63      7.03
            PRIBOR=>                                 
 Hungary            <     10.17      9.09      8.11     11.49
            BUBOR=>                                  
 Poland             <      5.35      4.96      4.73      5.67
            WIBOR=>                                  
 Note: FRA  are for ask prices                               
 quotes                                              
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 (Reporting by Karol Badohal in Warsaw, Jason Hovet in Prague
and Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest; Editing by Sohini Goswami)