Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 18

                                
 PRAGUE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Wednesday.
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 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/]
                                
 
=========================EVENTS=================================
                                
 PRAGUE - The Czech cabinet to hold a session (0700 GMT)
(www.vlada.cz/en/default.htm). News conference due at 1000 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - 15-year government bond auction <CZ1002547=>.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
=========================TOP NEWS===============================
                                
 EU RULE CHANGE REQUEST: Nine mostly eastern European Union
states have asked the bloc to consider changing its accounting
rules in a way that could cut the budget deficit and debt levels
of states that implement pension reforms.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE67G1FP]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]
                                
 
                                
 CEE MARKETS: Emerging Europe's currencies were mixed on
Tuesday, with the Polish zloty and bonds up, as another raft of
domestic data eased expectations for quick move to higher
interest rates.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE67G1GB]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 RATE TIGHTENING DELAYED: Czech central bank Governor
Miroslav Singer said on Tuesday the outlook for beginning policy
tightening seemed to be delayed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE67G13P]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
                                
 
                                
 BOND CALENDAR:  Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek
said on Tuesday that he would decide on the country's remaining
bond issues for 2010 by the end of August, but that he did not
plan issues in Swiss francs or dollars.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE67G0SW]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency    Latest     Prev   Pct change Pct change
                                
                                 close    on day     in 2010
 vs Euro    <EURCZK=>     24.782     24.794     0.05       5.84
 vs Dollar     <CZK=>     19.29      19.263    -0.14      -4.97
 Czech Equities <.PX>  1,196.7    1,196.7       1.24       7.11
 U.S. Equities <.DJI> 10,405.85  10,302.01      1.01      -0.21
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT

=========================PRESS DIGEST==========================
                                
 TAX BREAK: Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek will leave out
some of the contentious tax changes in a bill to implement
changes in 2011 to avoid threatening passage of the bill,
including tax changes to workers' benefits and elimination of
some tax breaks.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page A1
                                
 
                                
 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>

                                
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