Slovak crown weaker vs euro, awaits GDP data

    BRATISLAVA, March 5 (Reuters) - The Slovak crown was weaker 
against the euro on Monday as risk aversion grew among 
investors, but dealers said Tuesday's GDP data release might 
support the unit. 
    At 1520 GMT, the crown traded at 34.410 per euro, compared 
with Friday's one-week high of 34.300 and last week's close of 
34.335 . 
    High-yielding emerging currencies have been under pressure 
in the past week as a rising yen prompts investors to cut carry 
trades funded by the cheap Japanese unit. 
    "We started weaker because of rising risk aversion," said 
Tatra Banka dealer Boris Somorovsky. "The GDP figure might be 
rather slightly positive ... we could go to 34.300 or 34.350 if 
confirmed." 
    Players await details of fourth quarter economic growth, 
after preliminary data showed a 9.5 percent rise in the fourth 
quarter of 2006. 
    The structure of GDP growth should offer indications on when 
the central bank (NBS) may start cutting its key interest rate 
from 4.75 percent. 
------------------ MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1520 GMT ----------------- 
Crown/euro  at 34.410 vs 34.335 on Friday (-0.2 pct) 
Crown/dollar  at 26.250 vs 26.064 (-0.7 pct) 
5-yr govt bond  yield 4.298/4.091 vs 4.272/4.052 pct 
7-yr govt bond  yield 4.300/4.200 vs 4.312/4.093 pct 
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