** J.P. Morgan raises Poland to "overweight" from "underweight", amid new policy environment and "more aggressive European fiscal and defense policies"

** The J.P. Morgan strategists say the upgrade is further supported by the +22% bounce-back of Poland's blue-chip index .WIG20 in the 2025

** "While the market gave back 7% to March 4, we now expect a second rally from stronger European performance to push Poland and CE3 past February highs and to outperform USD-based EM markets," say the strategists

** JPM says the new policy environment in Europe is the result of the US security policy tilting toward Russia, the tariff wars erupting between the US versus Canada, Mexico and China, the "aggressive" announcement from Germany on fiscal policy and much faster defense build-up while relaxing the debt brake

** J.P. Morgan adds Poland's biggest lender PKO BP PKO.WA to the Top 10, Zabka ZAB.WA, Pepco PCOP.WA and Allegro ALEP.WA

** Country's blue-chip index .WIG20 hit its lowest in the current year on March 4, when it sank 4.3% amid pause of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, in 2024 sank as much as 6.4%

(Reporting by Anna Banacka)

((Anna.banacka@thomsonreuters.com))