Slovak crown off 16-wk high after inflation remarks

...other 
emerging markets, dealers said. 
    At 1230 GMT, the crown was at 33.140 per euro . The 
unit rose to 33.065, its strongest level since July 24, in early 
trade on a surprising foreign trade surplus. It closed at 33.135 
on Thursday. 
    "The entire emerging market was paid slightly ... and 
Almunia's comments on Slovakia, and also Slovenia, are not very 
positive overall," said a dealer with a foreign bank in 
Bratislava.  
    "I would expect more upside (weakening) pressure on the 
crown," he said. 
    EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on 
Friday sustainability of low Slovak inflation should be 
carefully considered when the EU assesses the country's 
readiness for the euro next spring. 
    He also said rising inflation in the new euro zone member 
Slovenia was a matter of concern and not a good example for 
other euro candidates. 
    The crown briefly touched 33.165 per euro after Almunia's 
comments, but it quickly slightly rebounded. 
    Slovakia, which aims to adopt the euro in 2009, met the euro 
inflation test for the first time ever in August. 
    September foreign trade showed an unexpected surplus of 4.7 
billion crowns, data showed earlier on Friday, and analysts said 
large downward revisions of deficits in the previous months was 
likely to boost gross domestic product growth this year. 
------------------ MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1230 GMT ----------------- 
Crown/euro  at 33.140 vs 33.135 on Thursday (-0.02 pct) 
 Crown/dollar   22.540 bid vs 22.564 (+0.11 pct) 
 5-yr govt bond  yield 4.54 pct bid vs 4.67 
10-yr govt bond  yield 4.69 pct vs 4.80 
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 (Reporting by Martin Dokoupil; Editing by Ron Askew) 
  
 
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  Keywords: MARKETS SLOVAKIA CROWN/MIDDAY 
    

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]