swissZURICH: The Swiss franc was broadly unchanged against the euro on Thursday, remaining within striking distance of a four month low hit the previous session ahead of a European Central Bank meeting and Swiss inflation data due later in the day.

The euro has firmed against other currencies ahead of the ECB meeting on hopes for a potential solution to the debt crisis after Germany said the European Financial Stability Facility could be used to shore up the wobbling euro zone banking system.

Optimism surrounding the ECB meeting has helped boost risk appetite, spurring gains in European and US equities markets on Wednesday and keeping the pressure on the safe haven franc.

"Swiss CPI... could well impact as a softer than forecast outcome and potential deflation signs would further bolster the SNB position," Informa Global Markets analyst Tony Nyman said.

Inflation data for September is due at 0715 GMT.

Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, head of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs told the Swiss daily TagesAnzeiger that an exchange rate of 1.30 or 1.40 would be "more in line with purchasing power".

The franc was little changed against the dollar compared to the New York close at 0.923 francs per dollar at 0627 GMT .

The franc was also steady against the euro at 1.232 francs per euro.

Copyright Reuters, 2011

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