Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 19

                                
 PRAGUE, March 19 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Thursday:
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hour)

======================== ECONOMIC DATA ========================
                                
 Real-time economic data releases....................<ECONCZ>
                                
 Previous stories on Czech data.............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI]
                                
 Overview of economic data and forecasts..........<CZ/ECON15>
                                
 Updates on Czech currency.............................[CZK/]
=========================== EVENTS =============================
                                
 PRAGUE - Artificial textile maker Pegas Nonwovens
<PGSNsp.PR> to release 2008 results. News conference with CEO
Frantisek Rezac and CFO Ales Gerza at 0900 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-TEX]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - The lower house of parliament to continue its
session.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
============================NEWS================================
                                
 GOVT CLOSEST YET TO COLLAPSE: The leftist opposition in the
Czech Republic has its best chance ever to topple the
centre-right cabinet, a step that could undermine Prague's
current presidency of the EU as the bloc fights economic crisis.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLI184493] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
                                
 STRONG DEMAND IN DEBT AUCTION: The Czech Republic sold far
more 10-year bonds than planned at its first auction of fixed
rate paper since October, but at a much higher cost than
previous issues, underlining its urgent need for funds.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLI942312] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
                                
 CEE FX STAGNATE: Central European currencies edged down
against the euro on Wednesday, led by the Czech crown as markets
moved cautiously after a recent rally.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLI228239] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 COMPS STRUGGLE WITH FINANCING: Czech companies are
struggling to secure financing for their operations and the
volatile crown is exacerbating problems tied to the economic
downturn, the head of a leading national industry lobby said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLH327835] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 FULL BOARD AT NEXT CBANK MEET: All seven members of the
Czech central bank's governing board should attend a March 26
monetary policy meeting although participation of one was
uncertain, the bank said on Wednesday.
                                
 Story: [ID: nPRA002429] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2009
 Czech Equities  <.PX>   706.3    706.3   +0.00          n/a 
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  26.930   26.930   +0.00         -0.52
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  19.995   20.009   -0.00         -4.50
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>   7,487    7,396   +1.23        -14.70
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600 GMT

===========================PRESS DIGEST=========================
                                
 CSSD PUSHES FOR AUTUMN ELECTIONS: The main opposition party
Social Democrats (CSSD) would push for early elections in the
autumn if they succeed in their no-confidence vote against the
government coalition, CSSD deputy chairman Bohuslav Sobotka
said.
                                
 Lidove Noviny, page 2
                                
 
                                
 NO CEE AID PACKAGE: The Czech Republic would oppose a
region-wide aid package for central and eastern Europe, Prime
Minister Mirek Topolanek said.
                                
 E15, page 1
                                
 
                                
 LOANS COULD STILL GROW: Loan growth has significantly slowed
but could still rise by around 10 percent this year, central
bank Vice-Governor Miroslav Singer said.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 8
                                
 
                                
 STATE COULD SELL PART OF CEZ AGAIN: The state will again
start selling some of its stake in power group CEZ <CEZPsp.PR>
when shares rebound above 1,250 crowns, deputy finance minister
Ivan Fuksa said. CEZ shares closed at 723.5 crowns on Wednesday.
                                
 Fuksa also said the state would not push for a higher
dividend from CEZ.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 13
                                
 
                                
 CZECH TV AD MARKET IN DECLINE: The Czech advertising market
will decline this year, head of Central European Media
Enterprises' <CETVsp.PR> Czech station TV Nova said, but he
would not give his estimates for how much.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page B3
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy.
                                
 
 For Instant Views of key economic data click on    [CZ/INSTANT]
 For summary of economic data and forecasts          <CZ/ECON01>
 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         <G7TODAY>

 For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets:
 Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX <.PX>

                                
 News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
                                
  (Compiled by Jason Hovet)