CEE MARKETS-Zloty and Czech crown slightly weaker, focus remains on Ukraine

WARSAW, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Polish zloty and Czech crown were a touch weaker on Wednesday as investors awaited further news on a peace plan for Ukraine, while the Hungarian forint steadied near a 22-months high.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed away from a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to agree to a U.S.-backed peace plan, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready to discuss the scheme.

"The weaker US dollar and the discussion of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia keep the Polish zloty supported," ING analysts wrote in a note to clients.

"In our opinion, the market remains pessimistic about the deal and any progress would therefore provide a bigger boost than a collapse of negotiations and weakening FX."

The Polish zloty EURPLN= weakened 0.1% to 4.2315 per euro at 0926 GMT.

ING also said that data from Poland this week drew a mixed picture - numbers from industry and retail sales surprised to the upside, but the market focused mainly on weaker wages.

Wednesday's data showed the unemployment rate in Poland remained stable in October at 5.6%.

With Wednesday being the last full day of trading in the U.S. before Thanksgiving, investors will also be watching U.S. data for signs on the outlook for Fed interest rates.

"In our opinion, the prospect of a slowdown in global investor activity in the second part of the week... will support the stabilization of the EUR/PLN exchange rate in the range of 4.22-4.23 and the USD/PLN exchange rate in the range of 3.63-3.65," Alior Bank economists said.

Elsewhere, the Hungarian forint EURHUF= rose 0.1% to 381.95 per euro, holding close to a new high hit a day earlier.

"On Tuesday afternoon, the euro/forint rate fell below the 382 level after it emerged that Ukraine had accepted the revised peace plan. Thereafter a correction set in, so the 382 support was not decisively breached," brokerage Equilor said.

"Above that, key resistance sits at 384, while if the aforementioned support is violated, stronger support may be at 380."

The currency has recently been supported by the European Union's joint-highest central bank rate of 6.5%, which has made the forint attractive for carry trade transactions.

Elsewhere, the Czech crown EURCZK= hit a fresh 26-month high of 24.117 per euro on Tuesday and was hovering off that level on Wednesday, trading at 24.165 per euro, 0.2% lower on the day.

($1 = 3.6534 zlotys)