Slovak crown slides vs euro, eyes trade, CPI data

    A regional correction knocked 
the Slovak crown down against the euro on Thursday as investors 
await the release of December foreign trade and January 
inflation data on Friday. 
    The crown eased alongside other European emerging currencies 
and hit an intra-day low of 34.685 per euro, but recovered later 
in the session and closed at 34.615 per euro , down 
from 34.530 on Wednesday. 
    "All (the crown's trend) is now about tomorrow's inflation 
and foreign trade data," one Bratislava-based trader said. 
    Analysts forecast a foreign trade gap of 10 billion crowns 
for the December period, an indicator that traditionally 
influences the currency's trend. 
    "A 10 billion crown gap (foreign trade balance) is priced in 
but indicators have only a short-term impact and it will return  
to being under regional influence," one traded said. 
    Markets are also looking at January inflation data which are 
expected to confirm a positive inflationary outlook and provide 
more hints on the timing of a widely expected policy easing by 
the central bank. 
    Statistics Office will publish all indicators on Friday at 9 
a.m. (0800 GMT). 
------------------ MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 1530 GMT ----------------- 
Crown/euro  34.615 vs 34.530 on Wednesday (-0.25 pct) 
Crown/dollar   26.565 vs 26.520 (-0.17 pct) 
5-yr govt bond  yield 4.281/3.881 vs 4.253/090 pct 
7-yr govt bond  yield 4.333/113 vs 4.351/220 pct 
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]