The forint softened after the National Bank of Hungary said it would change its main sterilisation instrument to a three-month, rather than a two-week, deposit in an effort to make government securities more attractive to banks.

Even as it weakened against the euro, the forint firmed to 280.06 from 283.34 against the dollar.

It softened to 299.93 from 299.34 against the Swiss franc.