* Latvia hopes boost sentiment, forint leads
* Hungary dep governor looks for lasting sentiment change
* CEE slides into recession [
](Adds details, bonds)
By Jason Hovet
PRAGUE, June 9 (Reuters) - The Hungarian forint rose to a one-week high on Tuesday, leading central European currencies after news Latvia was close to agreeing budget cuts that could get it more IMF funds boosted sentiment.
Central Europe has been on shaky ground in the past week because of worries the Baltic state would need to devalue its currency to fight a steep economic slide, and investors are nervous about fallout for other emerging markets in the region.
The forint <EURHUF=> jumped 0.8 percent to 283.53 to the euro by 0932 GMT, extending gains after Hungarian central banker Ferenc Karvalits said rate cuts cannot start until more evidence the positive tone in markets is lasting. [
]In Latvia, leaders agreed late on Monday to cut around 500 million lats ($987.6 million) in public spending [
], giving a boost to central European currencies that gained on Tuesday despite poor Czech and Hungarian gross domestic product (GDP) readings.The zloty <EURPLN=> added 0.2 percent from Monday's domestic close to 4.513. The Czech crown <EURCZK=> rose to 26.853 per euro, 0.1 percent up, and Romania's leu dipped to 4.209.
"Latvia remains in focus, with the government's approval of a further substantial budget tightening boosting sentiment..." Cheuvreux analysts said in a morning note.
Dealers said a stronger euro, the region's reference currency, added to gains, while central European stocks rose up to 1 percent.
Currencies had lost up to 3 percent last week, led by the forint, as some policymakers in central Europe warned of spillover effects from Latvia's problems.
The IMF and EU executive have said the Baltic nation must make further spending cuts before receiving fresh loans.
BONDS BOOSTED
Tuesday's relief rally from Latvia, where the lat was at a four-month high [
], gave a boost to bonds, with Hungarian yields dropping with the stronger forint."The forint may have been helped by comments from Karvalits which suggest there will be no interest rate cut at the central bank's next meeting," a Budapest fixed-income dealer said.
Nagging economic worries as central Europe's export-reliant economies await a rebound in euro zone consumption have hung on markets, and central Europe has lagged emerging peers.
The Czech and Hungarian statistics offices confirmed sharp economic falls following earlier flash estimates on Tuesday. Hungary's GDP shrank 6.7 percent on the year in the first quarter, more than first thought, and the Czech Republic 3.4 percent. [
] [ ]Currencies have gained around 10 percent in a rocky climb up during a months-long emerging risk rally started after February and March lows, but, led by the zloty, are down up to 25 percent in the past year.
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today in 2009 Czech crown <EURCZK=> 26.853 26.888 +0.13% -0.37% Polish zloty <EURPLN=> 4.513 4.523 +0.22% -8.82% Hungarian forint <EURHUF=> 283.53 285.75 +0.78% -7.05% Croatian kuna <EURHRK=> 7.309 7.312 +0.04% +0.77% Romanian leu <EURRON=> 4.209 4.199 -0.24% -4.62% Serbian dinar <EURRSD=> 93.536 93.816 +0.3% -4.34% Yield Spreads Czech treasury bonds <0#CZBMK=> 2-yr T-bond CZ2YT=RR +15 basis points to 132bps over bmk* 4-yr T-bond CZ4YT=RR +1 basis points to +139bps over bmk* 8-yr T-bond CZ8YT=RR +12 basis points to +252bps over bmk* Polish treasury bonds <0#PLBMK=> 2-yr T-bond PL2YT=RR +7 basis points to +372bps over bmk* 5-yr T-bond PL5YT=RR +2 basis points to +297bps over bmk* 10-yr T-bond PL10YT=RR +2 basis points to +260bps over bmk* Hungarian treasury bonds <0#HUBMK=> 3-yr T-bond HU3YT=RR -2 basis points to +830bps over bmk* 5-yr T-bond HU5YT=RR -22 basis points to +760bps over bmk* 10-yr T-bond HU10YT=RR -23 basis points to +676bps over bmk* *Benchmark is German bond equivalent. All data taken from Reuters at 1134 CET. Currency percent change calculated from the daily domestic close at 1500 GMT. For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: All emerging market news [
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