PRAGUE, Feb 17 (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 + 1 hour)
=========================ECONOMIC DATA=========================
Real-time economic data releases....................<ECONCZ>
Previous stories on Czech data.............[]
Overview of economic data and forecasts..........<CZ/ECON15>
Updates on CEE currencies.............................[]
=========================EVENTS=============================
PRAGUE - Power firm CEZ <> to hold a news
conference with CEO Martin Roman on electricity theft from the
grid (0830 GMT).
Related news: []
=========================TOP NEWS=============================
SOLAR POWER: The distribution arm of the main Czech power
firm CEZ <> halted issuing approvals for connection of
new solar and wind power plants to the grid on Tuesday because a
boom in the sector threatened grid stability.
Story: [] Related news: []
CEE MARKETS: The zloty firmed on Tuesday on speculation
Poland may hike rates faster, supporting other currencies which
were steady despite uncertainty over Greece's ability to cut its
budget deficit.
Story: [] Related news: []
---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change
close on day in 2010
Czech Equities <> 1140,8 1140,8 0,96 2,1
vs Euro <EURCZK=> 25,979 25,959 -0,08 1,29
vs Dollar <CZK=> 18,889 18,864 -0,13 -2,79
U.S. Equities <> 10268,81 10099,14 1,68 -1,53
Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600
=========================PRESS DIGEST===========================
GREECE: The Greek economic problem has not affected the
Czech Republic, Finance Minister Eduard Janota said. Spreads
between Czech bonds versus German bund have not moved, he said.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 2
CIGARETTES: The Czech Republic will have to hike cigarette
prices by 12 crowns a pack by 2014 due to an excise tax increase
by the EU raising the price of 1,000 pieces by 64-90 euros
($87.36-122.9). Two increases of 6 crowns each are expected.
LEFTIST SAVING PLAN: The leading leftist party the Social
Democrats introduced measures to curb the country's quickly
growing debt. Technocrat Finance Minister Eduard Janota said it
was laughable that the leftist party talks about debt reduction
while it pushes through spending hikes in the parliament, ahead
of an election in May.
Pravo, page 2
CEZ: Analysts polled by Bloomberg expect net profit at power
utility CEZ <> rose for the whole of 2009 by more than
3 billion crowns ($157.4 million) to 51.5 billion.
E15, page 1
NUCLEAR TENDER: The government has established a council
comprising 9 officials to oversee a tender to build new nuclear
reactors for power group CEZ <>. It is the country's
biggest ever procurement deal estimated to be worth 500 billion
crowns ($26.23 billion).
E15, page 7
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy.
For Instant Views of key economic data click on []
For summary of economic data and forecasts <CZ/ECON01>
For diary of forthcoming Czech events []
For calendar of east European economic indicators []
TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets []
TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch []
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 <> Budapest BUX <> Prague PX <>
News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474;
fax: +420 224 229 935
(Reporting by Jana Mlcochova)
E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
