Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 8

                                
  PRAGUE, March 8 (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 hour)

=========================ECONOMIC DATA=========================
                                
 January foreign trade data at 0800 GMT.
                                
 February unemployment data at 0800 GMT.
                                
 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
(www.vlada.cz/en/default.htm). News conference due at 1330 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
==========================TOP NEWS=============================
                                
 CEE MARKETS: East Europe's currencies firmed on Friday with
the zloty at 15-month highs after hawkish comments on rates from
a central banker, while encouraging U.S. jobs data lifted
recovery hopes and global risk appetite. 
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6240EW] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 FX POLL: The zloty could firm more against the euro over the
next year than previously expected, leading currency strength
across the region as economies start recovering, a monthly
Reuters poll showed on Friday. 
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6231G9] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 CEE BANKS: Emerging Europe is not a bloc but a collection of
economies and banking markets that vary widely and investors
should look at them one by one to find cheap bank stocks
offering growth, Goldman Sachs analysts said.  
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6241CO] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-BNK]
                                
 
                                
 CEZ IN KOSOVO: Czech utility CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> and its partner
AES <AES.N> will not take part in a revamped tender to build a
power plant in Kosovo because the terms of the offer changed and
the plan was significantly delayed, CEZ said on Friday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nPRG003960] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MRG]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2010
 Czech Equities <.PX>    --      1156.8     0.85        3.54
 vs Euro    <EURCZK=>  25.636    25.628    -0.03        2.59
 vs Dollar     <CZK=>  18.731    18.717    -0.07       -1.93
 U.S. Equities <.DJI>  10566.2   10444.14   1.17        1.32
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600

=========================PRESS DIGEST===========================
                                
 CEZ IN POLAND: CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> will compete in an auction
for the heat distribution network in Poland's Ruda Slaska, whose
value is seen at more than 460 million crowns. The auction takes
place March 30.
                                
 Tyden.cz, business section
                                
 
                                
 SPORT TAX: Social Democrat (CSSD) leader Jiri Paroubek said
firms with more than 5 billion crowns ($267.1 million) in annual
revenue should pay a 1 percent of its tax base to support
culture and sport.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 18

                                
 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