Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 19

...Republic: GMT + 1 hours) 
 
 ======================== ECONOMIC DATA ======================== 
    No economic data are due for release until the release of 
November money supply and third-quarter foreign debt on Dec. 31. 
    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 ========================== 
    LEFTISTS EXTEND LEAD: The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) 
widened their lead over the ruling right-wing party, an opinion 
poll showed. 
    Story: [nL18213018] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL] 
 
 =========================== EVENTS ============================ 
    INTEREST RATE DECISION: The central bank's governing board 
convenes to vote on this year's final interest rate decision. An 
announcement is expected sometime after 1100 with a news 
conference to follow at 1430. 
    Most analysts expect the main two-week repo rate to stay put 
at 3.50 percent, after a 25 basis point hike in November. 
    Vice-Governor Miroslav Singer may miss the meeting. Singer 
would take part in a cabinet session to discuss Czech 
convergence with the euro zone, which made his presence at the 
board meeting uncertain. 
    - For a poll on analysts' views, click on [CNB/INT] 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN-INT] 
     
    CABINET MEETING: The cabinet meets in a regular weekly 
session. Updated euro convergence programme is on the agenda. 
News conference is scheduled but its time has yet to be 
announced. 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-EUR] 
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ 
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change 
                                 close   on day       in 2007 
 Czech Equities   1,796.7  1,771.8   +1.41        +13.08 
 vs Euro       26.115   26.160   +0.17         +5.30 
 vs Dollar        18.148   18.152   +0.03        +14.74 
 U.S. Equities    13,232   13,167   +0.50         +6.17 
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 
 
 ==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ==================== 
    T-BILL AUCTION CANCELLED: The Czech Republic cancelled an 
auction of 39-week Treasury bills worth 5 billion crowns ($272.3 
million) scheduled for Thursday because of an ongoing favourable 
budget performance. 
    Story: [nL18355285] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MMT] 
 
 ======================= PRESS DIGEST ========================== 
    RAILWAYS HIKE PAY: State-owned Czech Railways, with 53,000 
workers the country's biggest employer, agreed to raise wages by 
7.6 percent on average next year. Rising demands of employees 
for wage hikes have fanned concern at the central bank over an 
increase in inflationary pressures. 
    Mlada fronta Dnes, page B3 
 
 
 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]