...Australian and Canadian dollars fell nearly 2% against the U.S. currency, while the price of gold dropped to six-month lows. Anticipation of strong U.S. economic data due out this afternoon also pushed the dollar higher. The first-quarter gross domestic product is expected to show a rise of 5.0%, up from 4.1% in the last quarter of 2003.
In late trade on Wednesday the crown fell sharply against the euro to hit a three-and-half week low. The move can be attributed to large crown sell orders carried out at illiquid market. Finance Ministry raised this year's fiscal deficit forecast to 6.1% from previous 5.2%, but the market reaction was calm as the upward revision had been anticipated. Today's CNB meeting is expected to result in no change in interest rates.
|
FX RATES |
| USD/CZK |
27.675/705 |
| USD/GBP |
1.7660/65 |
| EUR/CHF |
1.5459/70 |
| EUR/CZK |
32.705/735 |
| USD/YEN |
110.33/36 |
| EUR/GBP |
0.6685/91 |
| EUR/USD |
1.1812/15 |
| EUR/YEN |
130.32/37 |
|
STOCK MARKETS |
| NIKKEI |
12004.29 |
–40.59 |
| EUROSTOXX 50 |
2836.67 |
–48.15 |
| FTSE 100 |
4524.5 |
–51.2 |
| DAX 30 |
4065.74 |
–68.36 |
| DJ INDEX |
10342.60 |
–135.56 |
| NASDAQ |
1989.54 |
–42.99 |
| PX 50 |
850.4 |
+6.2 |
| GOLD |
382.75/+383.50 |
- |
| DEPOSIT RATES |
| | CZK | USD | EUR | YEN |
| ON | 1.90-2.00 | 0.99-1.04 | 2.02-2.05 | --- |
| 3M | 1.96-2.06 | 1.08-1.13 | 2.04-2.07 | -0.07---- |
| 6M | 2.02-2.12 | 1.30-1.35 | 2.08-2.11 | -0.05-0.02 |
