Forint battered by eurozone crisis, says PM spokesman

History

Prime Ministerial Spokesman Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday that developments with regard to the euro-zone financial crisis, notably market reaction to Greece's announcement that it would hold a referendum on the zone's new bailout plan, have exercised the primary impact on forint-euro rates.

The forint moved past 307 to the euro Wednesday morning before a moderate firming to above 205 by the afternoon.

Szijjártó said that Hungary should draw two lessons from the current crisis: that it must further reduce its government debt, a significant part of which is denominated in foreign currency, and that "as many families as possible must be rescued from the foreign-currency loan trap".

Szijjártó asserted that Hungary's current economic performance and the government's economic policy decisions do not justify a downgrade of any kind, noting that Hungary is one of two European Union countries whose state debt is declining and that the country's projected 2012 deficit will be among the lowest in the EU.

The prime minister's spokesman remarked that "True economic processes do not play an exclusive role in the decisions of the ratings agencies," noting that "Hungary's economic policy harms the interests of certain financial circles."

ADVERTISEMENT

Number of Bank Branches Continues Decline Banking

Number of Bank Branches Continues Decline

Gov't to Launch HUF 20 bln Workers Hostel Program Government

Gov't to Launch HUF 20 bln Workers Hostel Program

Retail Sales Fall 6.5% y.o.y. in October Retail

Retail Sales Fall 6.5% y.o.y. in October

Heineken Balaton Sound Announces 1st Phase Lineup In Hungary

Heineken Balaton Sound Announces 1st Phase Lineup

SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL

Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.