Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 5

                                
 PRAGUE, March 5 (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 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 ===============================
                                
 CABINET MEETS: The cabinet meets. Agenda includes a decision
on the possible purchase of armoured personnel carriers made by
a unit of General Dynamics <GD.N>.
                                
 
                                
 BOND OFFERING: The Finance Ministry will offer 7 billion
crowns worth of 10-year government bonds <CZ1001903=>. Bids are
due by 1100 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 WORLD BANK OUTLOOK: World Bank lead economist for central
Europe Thomas Laursen and Orco Property Group <ORCO.PA> CEO Jean
Francoise Ott will speak at a conference on the impact of the 
global financial turmoil on the Czech Republic (1500 GMT).
                                
 
========================= TOP NEWS =============================
                                
 FITCH UPGRADE: Fitch Ratings upgraded the Czech Republic's
long-term foreign currency credit rating to "A+" on Tuesday,
citing improvement in public finances and the introduction of
tax and spending reforms.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL04605825] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 CROWN OVERVALUED: The Czech crown has risen to unrealistic
levels and will have an impact on monetary policy decisions,
central bank chief Zdenek Tuma said on Tuesday.
                                
 Speaking at a business conference, Tuma said a correction of
the currency's gains was possible, prompting a brief dip in the
exchange rate.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL04890578] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
                                
 
====================== ELSEWHERE IN NEWS =======================
                                
 UNIPETROL SEES HIGHER PROFIT: Operating profit at Czech oil
processing group Unipetrol <UNPEsp.PR> will likely be higher
this year than the 4.8 billion crowns the company had forecast
last week, Chief Executive Francois Vleugels said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nPRA001791] Related news: [RTRS=LEN-CZ-ENR]
                                
 
                                
 CARBON DISPUTE: The Czech Republic may block the European
Commission's plan to auction carbon dioxide emissions permits
for energy companies after 2012, government officials said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL04483943] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CO2]
                                
 
                                
 CME PRICES BOND: Television broadcaster Central European
Media Enterprises' <CETV.O> <CETVsp.PR> $425 million five-year
convertible bonds will carry interest of 3.50 percent, the
company said on Wednesday.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-TBCS]
                                
 
                                
 CONTROVERSIAL MEDAL: The Czech Prime Minister sparked a
stormy debate over his country's Communist past by decorating
men who had killed people when they fought the totalitarian
regime and shot their way through to the West in 1950s.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL04506729] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,485.6  1,522.7   -2.44        -18.15
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  24.910   24.865   -0.18         +6.38
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  16.408   16.319   -0.49        +10.79
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  12,214   12,259   -0.37         -7.92
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500

====================== PRESS DIGEST ============================
                                
 CZECHS WANT TO JOIN NABUCCO: The Czech Republic wants to
take part in the Nabucco gas pipeline project, aimed to pbring
central Asian gas to Europe. He also reiterated support for
nuclear energy.
                                
 Pravo, page 15.
                                
 (Reuters has not verified any of the newspaper reports that
may be quoted above and does not 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>

                                
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fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com