Slovak crown firms to near record highs vs euro

    BRATISLAVA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The Slovak crown firmed towards 
last week's record against the euro in late Friday trade, and 
dealers said investors may try soon try to push it higher. 
    The crown retreated above 36.400 per euro bid <EURSKK=> from 
levels close to last Friday's record high of 36.250 in the 
previous session as central European markets paused after a 
recent rally. 
    But Friday's release of U.S. jobs data, which showed an 
unexpectedly robust U.S. hiring, helped the crown to regain 
ground along with neighbouring currencies, dealers said. 
    "The crown firmed in line with regional currencies. It seems 
investors invested into regional currencies after good U.S. 
data," said Tatra Banka dealer Boris Somorovsky. 
    At 1530 GMT, the crown was quoted at 36.280 per euro, up 
from Thursday's close of 36.420. 
    Traders said it was hard to predict whether the crown may 
break the 36.250 per euro level in the coming days. They said, 
however, attempts to push the crown beyond the mark will 
continue if emerging risk remains in global investors' focus. 
    "(There is) little domestically or externally to restore the 
markets' willingness to rebuild euro longs," Lucy Bethell, 
currency strategist at Royal Bank of Scotland, said in a note. 
    "Looking ahead to next week's data, trade should be of more 
interest than the CPI, as the focus is starting to switch to an 
autos led improvement in the trade balance next year," she said. 
    The crown has outperformed its central European peers this 
year, gaining 4.3 percent versus the euro, as approval of the 
2007 state budget draft calmed fears Slovakia may drop its 
ambition to adopt the euro in 2009. 
    The unit was also supported by expectations that car exports 
will improve the country's large current account gap which, at 
8.6 percent of GDP, was the widest in the region last year. 
    A Reuters survey showed on Friday analysts expected the 
crown to retreat towards 36.700 per euro by end-November. 
----------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1530 GMT------------------- 
Crown/Euro <EURSKK=> 36.280 vs 36.420 on Thursday (+0.43 pct) 
Crown/Dollar <SKK=>  28.555 vs 28.502 (-0.26 pct) 
5-yr govt bond <SK5YT=RR> yield unchanged at 4.644/445 pct 
8-yr govt bond <SK8YT=RR> yield 4.410/208 vs 4.439/4.220 
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  ((Reporting by Martin Dokoupil, editing by Ron Askew; Reuters 
Messaging: martin.dokoupil.reuters.com@reuters.net; +421 5341 
8402)) 
  Keywords: MARKETS SLOVAKIA CROWN CLOSE