Slovak crown steady, mkt eyes U.S. jobs data

    BRATISLAVA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The Slovak crown <EURSKK=> 
traded little changed versus the euro early on Friday as global 
investors awaited the release of U.S. jobs data, which may 
provide a new impulse for emerging markets, dealers said. 
    The crown rose briefly in the previous session to near last 
week's record high of 36.250 per euro, but eased later on as 
central European markets took a break after a recent rally. At 
0920 GMT, it was quoted at 36.435, flat from Thursday's close. 
    "The local economic diary is empty today. The crown will 
wait along with other regional currencies for the U.S. job 
market data," CSOB bank wrote in a market note. 
    "If the figure is bad, the dollar could weaken and investors 
may turn back to emerging markets, which could strengthen the 
crown," the bank said. 
    Investors eye U.S. non-farm payrolls data, due at 1330 GMT, 
for hints whether the U.S. economy is slowing down. 
    The crown has outperformed its central European peers this 
year, gaining 3.8 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. 
----------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0920 GMT------------------- 
Crown/Euro <EURSKK=> 36.435 vs 36.420 on Thursday (-0.10 pct) 
Crown/Dollar <SKK=>  28.518 vs 28.502 (-0.06 pct) 
5-yr govt bond <SK5YT=RR> yield unchanged at 4.644/445 pct 
8-yr govt bond <SK8YT=RR> yield 4.419/220 vs 4.439/4.220 
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 ((Reporting by Martin Santa, editing by Cheryl Juckes; Reuters 
Messaging: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; +421 5341 
8402)) 
  Keywords: MARKETS SLOVAKIA CROWN MIDDAY