Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 20

...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 ========================== 
    INTEREST RATES ON HOLD: The central bank (CNB) held interest 
rates steady on Wednesday while keeping a hawkish bias for 
monetary policy, opting to wait for more information on 
inflation in the light of the crown's record strength. 
    Story: [nL19397016] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN-INT] 
    HIGHLIGHTS of Governor's comments at a news conference: 
    [nL19409883] 
 
 =========================== EVENTS ============================ 
    CEZ : Power company CEZ holds a news conference 
with CEO Martin Roman and Deputy CEO Daniel Benes on important 
acquisitions and expected 2008 results at 1500. Conference with 
investors at 1700. 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEZPsp.PR] 
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ 
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change 
                                 close   on day       in 2007 
 Czech Equities   1,782.8  1,796.7   -0.77        +12.20 
 vs Euro       26.265   26.250   -0.06         +4.70 
 vs Dollar        18.276   18.248   -0.15        +13.92 
 U.S. Equities    13,207   13,232   -0.19         +5.97 
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 
 
 ==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ==================== 
    LEFTISTS MAINTAIN LEAD: The opposition Social Democrats 
(CSSD) maintained their lead over the ruling right-wing party, 
an opinion poll showed. 
    Story: [nL19884083] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL] 
     
    LITTLE ECONOMIC FLEXIBILITY: The Czech economy has not 
raised its flexibility significantly over the past year and the 
budget deficit will not fall sustainably unless further reforms 
are made, the central bank and the Finance Ministry said. 
    Story: [nL19418989] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD] 
 
 
 
 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]