CEE Market Update: PMIs Reflect Industry Weakness, Focus on Czech Republic's Economic Indicators

CEE: The market is losing patience with PLN

Yesterday's PMIs in the CEE region confirmed continued weakness in industry in December, especially in the Czech Republic where the leading indicator fell to its lowest reading since September last year, sinking hopes of a recovery at the end of the year. The calendar is empty in the region today, but it should get more interesting in the days ahead. On Thursday, the Czech Republic will release the state budget result for last year. The Ministry of Finance is already indicating that the resulting deficit could be lower than projected (CZK295bn), which would be good news for Czech government bonds (CZGBs). At the same time, MinFin is expected to publish a funding plan for this year by the end of this week, the last one in the CEE region, which we believe should also point to a positive picture for CZGBs this year. Then, on Friday, the final 3Q GDP report in the Czech Republic will be published, while in Poland, December inflation will be released. We expect a small increase from 6.6% to 6.7% year-on-year, slightly above market expectations. However, the wide range of estimates suggests an interesting print here.

In the FX market, most of the region started the year with gains except the Polish zloty. The general picture for the CEE region seems mixed with a stronger US dollar on the one hand and higher market rates across the board on the other. Although PLN should benefit the most from higher rates across the region in our view, it is the weakest since November last year. Heavy long positioning and just a lazy move down in EUR/PLN in recent weeks seems to have triggered some selling in PLN. Yesterday's paying flow in the rates market seems to have stopped the sell-off around 4.360 EUR/PLN, however, it is hard to say if we are at the end for now. We still expect a stronger PLN given the macro and monetary policy outlook, however for now we will have to experience a moment of weakness. Elsewhere in the region, higher market rates seem to have supported FX and CZK and HUF are enjoying new gains. In Hungary in particular, we could see more in this direction over the coming days, in our view.