|

CEE: Market switched to Christmas mood – ING

As expected, the National Bank of Hungary left rates unchanged yesterday and forward guidance did not see much change either, ING’s FX analyst Frantisek Taborsky notes.

EUR/HUF seems to have stabilised around 408-410 for now

“As in November, one member voted for a rate cut. But at the same time, the press conference tried to introduce a long pause in the cutting cycle. The new forecast showed a slightly higher inflation profile for next year, while the economy will be weaker this year compared to the September forecast.”

“The NBH found a rather muted market reaction to today's meeting. In line with CEE peers, the EUR/HUF moved up very little after the press conference. The HUF market, like its CEE peers, seems to have already switched into Christmas mode, and with little news coming out of today's NBH meeting, it is hard to expect a big market view. EUR/HUF seems to have stabilised around 408-410 for now.”

“Today's calendar in the region is empty with several bond auctions on the calendar only, the last of the year. The rates market seems to be dominated by low liquidity and CTA flow, which is driving rates up, especially in the PLN market, which could again deliver some boost to FX. On the other hand, CZK rates seem too aggressively hawkish after a few days of upward movement and closed lower yesterday despite the spike in rates, indicating in turn a weaker CZK into the Czech National Bank's meeting tomorrow.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD deflates to fresh lows, targets 1.1600

The selling pressure on EUR/USD now gathers extra pace, prompting the pair to hit fresh multi-week lows in the 1.1625-1.1620 band on Friday. The continuation of the downward bias comes in response to further gains in the US Dollar as market participants continue to assess the mixed release of US Nonfarm Payrolls in December.

GBP/USD breaks below 1.3400, challenges the 200-day SMA

GBP/USD remains under heavy fire and retreats for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. Indeed, Cable suffers the strong performance of the Greenback, intensified post-mixed NFP, and trades at shouting distance from its critical 200-day SMA near 1.3380.

Gold flirts with yearly tops around $4,500

Gold keeps its positive bias on Friday, adding to Thursday’s advance and challenging yearly highs in the $4,500 region per troy ounce. The risk-off sentiment favours the yellow metal despite the firmer tone in the Greenback and rising US Treasury yields.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP risk further decline as market fear persists amid slowing demand

Bitcoin holds $90,000 but stays below the 50-day EMA as institutional demand wanes. Ethereum steadies above $3,000 but remains structurally weak due to ETF outflows. XRP ETFs resume inflows, but the price struggles to gain ground above key support.

Week ahead – US CPI might challenge the geopolitics-boosted Dollar

Geopolitics may try to steal the limelight from US data. A possible US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs could dictate market movements. A crammed data calendar next week, US CPI comes on Tuesday; Fedspeak to intensify.

XRP trades under pressure amid weak retail demand

XRP presses down on the 50-day EMA support as risk-averse sentiment spreads despite a positive start to 2026. XRP faces declining retail demand, as reflected in futures Open Interest, which has fallen to $4.15 billion.