Slovak koruna fails to appreciate

The National Bank of Slovakia is likely to consider a 50 basis point rate increase this month as the koruna’s failure to appreciate in recent months drives inflation, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank. The Slovak Republic enjoyed an acceleration of real GDP growth to 6% in 2005, and the central bank felt confident enough to issue a target inflation rate of below 2% by 2007. But the currency’s disappointing performance has led to higher than expected inflation this year, and the strong suspicion that the NBS will buy crowns if further tightening doesn’t prevent further depreciation.