Czech crown slightly firmer after Fitch report

...currency debt rating at 'A' with a stable outlook.

The crown traded at a two-week high of 27.88 to the euro at 1514 GMT, extending gains from the day's low of 27.97 and 27.955 late on Wednesday.

Fitch said the country's rating was supported by convergence with western Europe and a strong external financing position.

Traders said Friday's session would be quiet, affected by Good Friday holiday on foreign markets. Czech markets will close only for the Easter holiday on Monday.

"For the domestic currency, only the (February) current account data next week will be interesting. It may show a surplus for the second month running, which could support further crown firming," bank CSOB analyst Miroslav Frayer said in a report.

Analysts say the crown's gains may be limited by an interest rate discount versus the euro zone.

At 2.50 percent, the Czech policy rate is the lowest in the European Union, ranking the crown among the world's three most popular funding currencies alongside the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. ----------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1513 GMT ----------------- Crown/euro last deals at 27.878 (0.28 pct) Crown/dollar at 20.751 bid (0.65 pct) 5-year yield due Oct 2010 3.38 pct bid (-2 bps) 10-year yield due Jan 2016 3.90 pct bid (3 bps)

Current levels versus prior domestic close at 1500 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------