CEE MARKETS-Currencies mixed, stocks firm as PMI data show uneven recovery

By Anita Komuves BUDAPEST, March 1 (Reuters) - Central European currencies were mixed on Monday while stocks firmed, as data from the region showed a recovery in manufacturing sentiment had stalled in Hungary and slowed in the Czech Republic, but picked up in Poland. Hungary's seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to 49.4 in February from a revised 54.5 in January. The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction. In the Czech Republic the headline PMI eased to 56.5 in February from 57.0 in January. The recovery in Polish manufacturing gathered steam in February fuelled by a strong increase in new orders. IHS Markit's PMI rose to a 32-month high of 53.4 in February from 51.9 in January. A third wave of the coronavirus pandemic has hit CEE countries in recent weeks, putting pressure on the region's currencies. The Czech crown firmed 0.23% and was trading at 26.125 versus the euro on Monday, recouping some losses after a sharp drop on Thursday. The Hungarian forint was 0.15% lower at 362.86 per euro, adding to last week's losses, but two FX traders said there were no fundamental reasons for the currency to underperform its peers. "Today's slide is technical, now that the currency broke 360, it will test weaker levels," one trader said. The zloty was little changed at the start of a week that includes a central bank rate meeting on Wednesday, with borrowing costs expected to remain the same. Central bank governor Adam Glapinski will hold a press confernce on Friday. "On the domestic front, we are counting on a slight strengthening of the zloty, which will be due to technical factors, unchanged interest rates in Poland and optimistic global sentiment," Bank Millienium wrote. Stock markets in the region firmed, tracking equities across Europe. Budapest led gains as it added 1.81% while Prague was 1.32% higher. Bucharest was up 0.67%. Warsaw's equities were up 1.04%. CEE SNAPSHO AT MARKETS T 1107 CET CURRENC IES Latest Previous Daily Change bid close change in 2021 EURCZK= Czech % EURHUF= Hungary 0 EURPLN= Polish EURRON= Romanian EURHRK= Croatian % EURRSD= Serbian 0 % Note: calculated from 1800 daily CET change Latest Previous Daily Change close change in 2021 .PX Prague 1071.54 1057.600 +1.32 +4.32% 0 % .BUX Budapest 44580.8 43790.17 +1.81 +5.87% 3 % .WIG20 Warsaw 1927.21 1907.28 +1.04 -2.86% % .BETI Buchares 10270.3 10201.85 +0.67 +4.74% t 0 % .SBITOP Ljubljan <.SBITOP 971.78 964.29 +0.78 +7.87% a > % .CRBEX Zagreb 1834.65 1830.19 +0.24 +5.48% % .BELEX1 Belgrade <.BELEX1 744.97 745.64 -0.09% -0.49% 5 5> .SOFIX Sofia 499.58 495.58 +0.81 +11.63 % % Yield Yield Spread Daily (bid) change vs change Bund in Czech spread Republic CZ2YT=R 2-year ps CZ5YT=R 5-year ps CZ10YT= ps Poland PL2YT=R 2-year ps PL5YT=R 5-year ps PL10YT= ps FORWARD 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M interba nk Czech 0.42 0.60 0.81 0.36 Rep Hungary 0.93 1.09 1.25 0.77 Poland 0.25 0.30 0.36 0.21 Note: are for ask FRA prices quotes ********************************************* ***************** (Additional reporting by Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)