Hungary's forint led gains in central European currencies on Friday, lifted by optimism over the government's foreign currency loan plan, while the Czech crown weakened ahead of a central bank meeting next weak. Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban said he aimed to resolve the country's foreign currency mortgage problem without wrecking the financial system. The forint was up by 0.35 percent to 296.68 against the euro easing slightly from the day's high of 295.94, and recovering from a one-month low of 298.1 hit on Thursday in shallow trade.
"Concerns about the programme to help FX borrowers have to a certain extent abated and the forint has somewhat rebounded due to that," a Budapest-based currency dealer said.
The market reacted nervously after the cabinet issued a statement on Wednesday saying it planned to talk to banks about a solution to help the many Hungarian households who took out foreign currency loans when the forint was stronger and are now struggling to repay them.
Orban's administration has passed a swathe of controversial laws since coming to power three years ago that have unnerved investors, including nationalising pension assets and imposing the highest tax on banks in Europe.
The Czech crown eased 0.17 percent to 25.934 a euro ahead of a central bank policy meeting next Thursday at which policymakers are seen discussing whether to intervene to weaken the currency now that interest rates are effectively at zero.
All 16 analysts who responded to questions on interventions in a Reuters poll said the bank would hold fire but the board is split and minutes from the previous session in June showed several bankers called for immediately launching crown sales.
News on Thursday that all board member would attend the meeting mean it could be more difficult for the dovish camp on the board to push through sales of the currency, analysts said.
The Czech economy is trapped in almost a two-year long recession hit by austerity measures and weak demand for its exports. Some policymakers are concerned a recovery expected in the latter half of 2013 is not materialising.