Slovak crown hits 2-wk low on region, eyes GDP data

...emerging 
markets in the coming days. 
    The crown stood at 33.690 per euro  as of 1430 GMT, 
after 33.610 late on Thursday. 
    "The crown weakened alongside other regional markets today 
as investors were buying euros," said Tatra Banka dealer Boris 
Somorovsky. 
    Friday's release of the foreign trade balance for March 
disappointed investors, showing a deficit of 4.6 billion crowns, 
well off forecasts for a 0.6 billion-crown gap. 
    Inflation for April failed to inspire crown moves, coming in 
at 2.7 percent year-on-year by local standards, a touch above 
market predictions. 
    Investors now focus on the release of a flash estimate for 
first quarter GDP growth, due on Tuesday, which may give a 
limited firming impulse for the crown, traders said. 
    "Even if the figure is great and the crown will firm, we 
will return to regional trends," said UniCredit trader Marian 
Sulko. 
    Analysts polled by Reuters expect the Slovak economy to have 
booked a record 10.5 percent growth year-on-year in the first 
three months, driven by rising car exports and solid domestic 
demand. 
------------------ MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1430 GMT ----------------- 
Crown/euro  33.690 vs 33.610 on Thursday (-0.24 pct) 
Crown/dollar   at 24.918 vs 24.877 (-0.16) 
5-yr govt bond  yield 4.197/4.048 vs 4.149/3.950 pct 
7-yr govt bond  yield 4.374/4.225 vs 4.400/4.230 pct 
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[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]