Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 1

                                
 PRAGUE, Oct 1 (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 Czech currency.............................[CZK/]
========================= EVENTS ============================
                                
 PRAGUE - Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September due
out at 0730 GMT.
                                
 PRAGUE - End-September budget balance data.
                                
 PRAGUE - The Czech cabinet to hold a regular session. News
conference at 1200 GMT.
                                
 
========================= TOP NEWS ============================
                                
 CZECH C.BANK CHIEF SAYS BANKS HEATHY: Czech banks are
healthy and hold no toxic assets in a significant amount, Czech
central bank (CNB) chief said on Wednesday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nPRG001032] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

                                
 CZECHS TO RAISE MORE FOREIGN DEBT IN 2009: The Czech
government expects to raise more foreign debt through bonds and
loans next year but to cut back the outstanding volume of
domestic bonds, the draft 2009 budget documentation showed on
Tuesday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL1599762] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]

                                
 POLES, CZECHS SEE NO IMPACT FROM GLOBAL TURMOIL: Global
financial turmoil has had little impact so far on Poland, the
Czech Republic and Slovakia, with their banks mostly unexposed
to the bad credits rocking U.S. and European financial houses,
officials said on Tuesday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLU260331] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
                                
 
                                
 CZECH C.BANK SAYS BANKS SHELTERED FROM CRISIS: The Czech
financial system is relatively isolated from the global
financial crisis and there is no reason for concern, the central
bank (CNB) said     
                                
 Story: [ID:nWLA0542] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-BNK]
                                
 
                                
 SANOFI GETS APPROVAL FOR ZENTIVA BID: The Czech central bank
said on Tuesday Sanofi-Aventis <SASY.PA> can go ahead with its
improved bid for generic drugs producer Zentiva <ZNTVsp.PR>.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLU525499] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MRG]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,204.7  1,205.5   -0.07        -33.63
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  24.550   24.535   -0.06         +7.94
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  17.387   17.398   +0.11         +4.55
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  10,851   10,365   +4.68        -18.20
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500

 ======================= PRESS DIGEST===========================
                                
 FINMIN'S GDP GROWTH ESTIMATE: Czech Finance Minister said he
personally expects GDP growth at 3 percent to 4.5 percent in
2009.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page B2
                                
 
                                
 CZECH BANKS SEE NO IMPACT FROM GLOBAL TURMOIL: The global
financial markets turmoil does not concern large Czech banks,
the chief executives of two of the three largest lenders said on
Wednesday.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 3
                                
 
                                
 SANOFI PUBLISHES IMPROVED OFFER: Sanofi-Aventis <SASY.PA>
released its improved, 1,150 crown per share bid for Czech drugs
maker Zentiva <ZNTVsp.PR>.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 28

                                
 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)