Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 5

                                
  PRAGUE, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Tuesday.
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hour)

=========================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/]
                                
 
==========================MORNING NEWS==========================
                                
 RATES: The time for Czech interest rates to rise is nearing
as shown in the central bank's forecast, central bank Vice
Governor Mojmir Hampl said on Tuesday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nPRG003862] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PLCY]
============================TOP NEWS============================
                                
 TRADE IDEA: Investors should consider opening a short euro
position against the Czech crown as temporary adverse factors
weakening the Czech unit wane and the currency returns to a path
supported by real convergence with the euro zone, bank Ceska
Sportelna said on Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE60407H] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 EXPLOSION: An explosion at the Czech plant of Avon
Automotive killed two people and injured several more on Monday,
officials said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE60407A] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GEN]
                                
 
                                
 ELECTION: Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on Monday this
year's election will be held as close as possible to the end of
the parliamentary term, making the last weekend in May the most
likely date.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6031G2] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
                                
 BUDGETS: The Czech budget deficit jumped well past
expectations last year, but better than expected revenue in
Hungary and Slovakia helped avoid their governments' most
pessimistic forecasts.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6031E5] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
                                
 CEE MARKETS: East European currencies began the year
stronger on the back of the weaker dollar and improving
domestic manufacturing indices, but high Czech and Slovak
budget deficits overshadowed the outlook.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6030ID] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 CEE PMI: Manufacturing in the European Union's two biggest
emerging economies continued a recovery in December and the
third, Hungary, inched closer to stabilisation, data showed on
Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6030EP] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 CZECH PMI: The Czech Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) held
in positive territory a second consecutive month in December,
with a manufacturing recovery gaining traction, Markit Economics
data showed on Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6030AR] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 CEZ SHUTDOWN PLANS: Czech utility CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> outlined
on Monday its planned power plant shutdowns in 2010, including a
seven-week stoppage at Temelin unit 2 in May and a more than
eight-week closure of the nuclear facility's unit 1 from
mid-July.
                                
 Story: [ID:nPRG003860] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ENR]
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2009
 Czech Equities <.PX>   1132,5   1132,5    1,36       1,36
vs Euro   <EURCZK=>    26,112    26,156    0,17      0,78
vs Dollar    <CZK=>    18,048     18,147   0,55       1,79
 U.S. Equities <.DJI>  10583,96  10428,05  1,5      1,5
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600

============================PRESS DIGEST========================
                                
 
                                
 BANKRUPTCIES: The number of Czech company bankruptcies rose
by 42 percent last year to 1,480, according to Czech Credit
Bureau. The number of bankrupt companies is expected to rise at
least until the middle of 2010, according to factoring company
Coface.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 15
                                
 
                                
 CEZ: Power group CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> acquired a solar-power
produced Gentley.
                                
 E15, page 11
                                
    
 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: Michael Kahn on +420 224 190 443;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com