Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Feb 14

                                
 PRAGUE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Monday.
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hours)

=========================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 CEE currencies............................[CEE/]
=============================TOP NEWS===========================
                                
 INCOME TAX: The Czech finance ministry plans to switch to a
flat income tax of around 20 percent for workers and the
self-employed, daily Mlada Fronta Dnes reported on Saturday,
citing a draft of the ministry's proposal. 
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE71B07V] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PLCY]
                                
   
                                
CO2 REGISTRY TO REOPEN: The Czech registry of carbon
emissions permits plans to reopen on Feb. 25 following weeks of
closure due to theft from several accounts, the registry
operator OTE said on Friday.
                                
Story: [ID:nPRG004707] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CO2]
                                
 
                                
 EU FUNDS, LOW DIVIDENDS PROP UP CURRENT ACCOUNT: The Czech
current account showed a 0.69 billion crown ($38.83 million)
deficit in December, much narrower than expected by analysts
thanks to transfers from the EU and lower dividend payments, the
central bank said on Friday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE71A0EB] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 OUTGOING HOLMAN VOTED FOR A HIKE-MINUTES: Czech central
bankers Robert Holman and Kamil Janacek joined hawk Eva
Zamrazilova to vote for a hike in interest rates on Feb.3,
widening the ranks of dissenters on the seven-strong governing
board.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE71A0E6] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 CEE MARKETS: The Hungarian forint rebounded on Friday with
a rising euro but was set for its first weekly loss of 2011
amid indications that optimism over anticipated Hungarian
spending cuts may have been overdone.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE71A0FL] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 CEE POWER: Czech power for the next working day fell on
Friday due to forecasts for milder weather, while Cal '12
baseload and front-month contracts rose along with coal and oil,
traders said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE71A1D2] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRV]
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency    Latest     Prev   Pct change Pct change
                                
                                 close    on day     in 2011
 vs Euro    <EURCZK=>     24.175     24.298    0.51      3.3
 vs Dollar     <CZK=>     17.832     17.916    0.47      4.48
 Czech Equities <.PX>  1,238.2    1,238.2      0.19      1.09
 U.S. Equities <.DJI> 12,273.26  12,229.29     0.36      6.01
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT

==========================PRESS DIGEST=========================
                                
 VAT SEEN AT 20 PCT: The government coalition is mulling a
plan to unite the VAT rates at the upper level of 20 percent
with the exception of drugs and heat which should be taxed by
the lower 10 percent rate, the paper reported citing unnamed
sources. The hike is to finance the planned pension reform. The
coalition is also pondering making private saving voluntary,
rather than compulsory, the paper adds, without giving its
sources.
                                
 Lidove Noviny, page 1
                                
    
                                
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it vouch
for their accuracy.

                                
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 [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>

                                
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