Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 30

                                
 PRAGUE, Oct 30 (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 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 Czech currency.............................[CZK/]
==========================EVENTS=============================
                                
 PRAGUE - Ceska Sporitelna <ERSTsp.PR>, a unit of Erste Bank
<ERST.VI>, to hold news conference after releasing nine-month
results (1000 GMT).
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RES]

                                
 PRAGUE - Power firm CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> to hold a news
conference on increasing of demands to connecting to the
distribution network. News conference at 0930 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ELG]

                                
 PRAGUE - 13-week T-bill auction.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - Czech central bank governing board to hold a
regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary
policy issues.
                                
Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

                                
 PRAGUE - Finance Ministry to publish quarterly update of its
macroeconomic forecasts on its Website www.mfcr.cz (1300 GMT).
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]
========================= TOP NEWS ============================
                                
 ERSTE REITERATES GUIDANCE: Erste Group Bank AG <ERST.VI>: *
Reiterates sees 2008 EBIT rising by 15 percent * Says expects
positive Q4 net profit despite capital market situation, Iceland
exposure.
                                
  Story: [ID:nWEA4790] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RESF]

                                
 AFTER HUNGARY, MORE EU AT RISK: The European Union's part in
the $25 billion Hungarian rescue package paves the way for other
possible bailouts for the bloc's ex-communist newcomers and
highlights the benefit of membership.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLT310747] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MMT]
                                
 
                                
 HUNGARY DEAL BOOSTS REGION: The Polish zloty and Hungarian
forint led central European currencies higher on Wednesday,
spurred by news of a bigger-than-expected IMF/EU rescue package
for Budapest and a jump in global stock markets.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL0472037] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEEU]
                                
 
                                
 OPPOSITION OPENS DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD: The Czech Republic's
main opposition party, the Social Democrats, opened a two-digit
lead over the ruling right-wing group this month, an opinion
poll showed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLT94236] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEEU]
                                
 
                                
 CME OPERATING INCOME PLUNGES: Television broadcaster Central
European Media Enterprises (CME) <CETVsp.PR> <CETV.O> reported a
third-quarter net loss of $14.8 million on a disappointing drop
in operating income, weighing on its shares.
                                
Story: [ID:nLR527771] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RES]
                                
 
==========================OTHER NEWS============================
                                
 ING CUTS CME TARGET: ING cut price target for broadcaster
CME <CETVsp.PR> <CETV.O> to $30.4 from $125, citing the downward
revision of the company's earnings forecast. It reiterated a
'buy' rating.
                                
 Story: [ID:nWNAB4498] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RCH]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 0,000.0  0,791.9   +0.00       -100.00
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  23.860   23.820   -0.17        +11.06
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  18.055   18.342   +1.76         +0.81
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  08,991   09,065   -0.82        -32.22
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500

====================== PRESS DIGEST ===========================
                                
 AIRPORT SEES PROFIT UP: The Prague Airport, which is slated
for privatisation next year, expects a 14 percent annual rise in
profit.
                                
 E15, page 19
                                
 
                                
 ENERGY PRICES: Electricity prices should rise by 8 percent
to 10 percent, coal prices by 5 percent to 10 percent and
heating by up to 17 percent. Natural gas prices should remain
flat.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1

                                
 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 Jana Mlcochova)