By Boldizsar  Gyori
       BUDAPEST, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Hungary's forint led losses
in central Europe on Tuesday as markets shifted away from risk,
while the Polish zloty eased ahead of a central bank rate
decision this week.
    The forint lost nearly 1% in morning trade before
cutting some losses, trading at 385.3 versus the euro at 0827
GMT, down 0.7% on the day.
    "The forint is tracking worse sentiment globally," a
Budapest trader said.
    "As for domestic factors, apart from the high interest rates
(in Hungary) I cannot see anything else that would be positive
right now," the trader said, adding high carry for the currency
would continue to buoy it in a wide range.
    Weak Chinese service sector data on Tuesday rekindled
worries over China's sputtering post-pandemic economy, hitting
the global mood. Central Europe's stocks followed global peers
lower.
    Central bank policy in the region is nearing a loosening,
but for now, rates remain high following sharp hiking cycles in
2021-2022.
    The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) was the first in the
region to begin an easing cycle by cutting its one-day deposit
rate gradually by 100 basis points.
    The Polish central bank (NBH) will announce a policy
decision on Wednesday and a narrow majority in a Reuters poll
expect a 25 basis-point cut, despite inflation remaining in
double-digits in August.
    The zloty traded flat at 4.48 versus the euro.
    "The (EUR/PLN) pair's rate has been consolidating around
4.45-4.48 for two weeks. Yesterday there was a slight increase
to around 4.47. Today, waiting for the MPC and impulses from the
core markets will continue," Alior Bank said in a note.
    Elsewhere in the region, the Czech crown traded
for 24.143 against the euro, stuck in its recent range.  
    Bank CSOB said improving data this week could give it an
impulse. 
    "For the Czech crown there surely isn't a positive
environment, with U.S. yields remaining high and the dollar is
also remaining strong," CSOB said.
    
                    CEE       SNAPSHO   AT                      
                    MARKETS   T        1027              
                                       CET               
                              CURRENC                           
                              IES                        
                              Latest   Previou  Daily    Change
                                       s                 
                              bid      close    change   in 2023
 EURCZK=  Czech                                         
 EURHUF=  Hungary                  0        0           
 EURPLN=  Polish                                        
 EURRON=  Romanian                                      
 EURRSD=  Serbian                  0        0           
          Note:     calculated from             1800            
          daily                                 CET      
          change                                         
                                                                
                              Latest   Previou  Daily    Change
                                       s                 
                                       close    change   in 2023
 .PX      Prague              1334.52  1336.39   -0.14%   +11.05
                                            00                 %
 .BUX     Budapest            55479.7  55663.5   -0.33%   +26.68
                                    2        0                 %
 .WIG20   Warsaw              2020.87  2025.59   -0.23%   +12.77
                                                               %
 .BETI    Buchares            13171.9  13354.1   -1.36%   +12.93
          t                         0        1                 %
                                                                
                                                Spread   Daily
                                                vs Bund  change
                                                         in
          Czech                                          spread
          Republic                                       
 CZ2YT=R    2-year                                  s  
 CZ5YT=R    5-year                                  s  
 CZ10YT=                                           s  
          Poland                                                
 PL2YT=R    2-year                                  s  
 PL5YT=R    5-year                                  s  
 PL10YT=                                           s  
                    FORWARD                                     
                              3x6      6x9      9x12     3M
                                                         interba
                                                         nk
          Czech                  6.88     6.13     5.19     7.10
          Rep                                           
          Hungary               11.25     9.72     8.55    13.19
                                                         
          Poland                 5.83     5.10     4.62     6.64
                                                         
          Note:     are for ask                                 
          FRA       prices                               
          quotes                                         
          *********************************************         
          *****************                              
 
 (Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Boldizsar
Gyori in Budapest, Robert Muller in Prague; Editing by Jan
Harvey and Angus MacSwan)