CEE MARKETS-Slipping dollar boosts FX

WARSAW, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Central European currencies found support in a slipping dollar on Friday, with the forint leading gains ahead of an expected "hold" decision on interest rates from the Hungarian central bank next week.

• Hungary's central bank is widely seen leaving its base rate steady at 5.5% HUINT=ECI next Tuesday, with no clarity yet on the 2027 budget, seen as a pivotal factor in anchoring market optimism about the country’s bid to adopt the euro.

• The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) paused a string of rate cuts last month, when it lowered its inflation target to 2.5% from 3% as Hungary prepares to meet the terms of joining the single European currency.

• The Hungarian forint traded up 0.14% against the euro to 363.10 by 0830 GMT.

• Data on Friday showed Hungary's gross average wage growth HUWAGE=ECI accelerated to an annual 8.4% in August from a 7.5% increase in July.

• Polish zloty edged 0.08% higher to 4.3670 per euro.

• Continued pressure on the dollar would support a corrective firming of the zloty, with the possibility of it testing local support close to 4.36 per euro, economists at Polish bank PKO BP said.

• Poland’s statistics office on Friday revised the country’s gross domestic product for the second quarter of 2026 to 4.1% year-on-year from 3.9%. It also revised the first-quarter GDP to 3.7% from 3.5%.

• The Czech crown was steady at 24.3470 per euro, holding gains made earlier this week and trading at its strongest since late September.