Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 17

...GMT + 1 hours) 
 
 ======================== ECONOMIC DATA ======================== 
    October retail sales are due out at 0800. Analysts polled by 
Reuters forecast a 6.0 percent increase year-on-year after a 4.3 
percent rise in September. 
    Real-time economic data releases.................... 
    Previous stories on Czech data.............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI] 
    Overview of economic data and forecasts.......... 
    Updates on Czech currency.............................[CZK/] 
 
 ========================== TOP STORY ========================== 
    RATES SEEN ON HOLD: The central bank (CNB) is likely to hold 
interest rates this week, taking advantage of a strong crown 
currency to pause in its policy tightening after last month's 
increase, a Reuters poll showed. 
    Story: [nL14379444] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN] 
    TABLE with analysts' rate forecasts.............[nL14593352] 
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ 
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change 
                                 close   on day       in 2007 
 Czech Equities   1,804.3  1,805.8   -0.08        +13.56 
 vs Euro       26.360   26.410   +0.19         +4.32 
 vs Dollar        18.282   18.292   +0.08        +13.91 
 U.S. Equities    13,340   13,518   -1.32         +7.03 
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 
 
 ==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ==================== 
    PRIVATISATION: The Czech government may sell a majority 
stake in Prague Airport to one bidder in a tender rather than 
floating the company on the stock market, First Deputy Finance 
Minister Ivan Fuksa said. 
    Story: [nL14702137] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MRG] 
     
    SVEJNAR RUNS FOR PRESIDENT: Economist Jan Svejnar launched 
his campaign on Friday to become Czech president, challenging 
incumbent right-winger Vaclav Klaus in the vote due in February. 
    Story: [nL14572530] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL] 
 
 
 
 For Instant Views of key economic data click on    [CZ/INSTANT] 
 For summary of economic data and forecasts           
 For diary of forthcoming Czech events                [CZ/DIARY] 
 For calendar of east European economic indicators  [CONV/DIARY] 
 TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets                         [TOP/EMRG] 
 TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch                        [TOP/EAST] 
 
 For an economic indicator diary for the euro zone, the United 
 States and other Group of Seven countries see          
 
 For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: 
 Warsaw WIG20   Budapest BUX   Prague PX  
 
    News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 477; 
fax: +420 224 229 935 
    E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com 
    Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net 
 
 (Compiled by Marek Petrus) 
  
  Keywords: CZECH FACTORS/ 
    

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]