PRAGUE, Jan 28 (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 Czech currency.............................[]
=========================== EVENTS =============================
PRAGUE - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to meet
General Secretary of of the European Trade Union Confederation
(ETUC) John Monks. A news conference at 0745 GMT.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg to host
meeting with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner and Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar
Spanta. Press conference at 1215 GMT.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Kohout to hold a
news briefing on Informal Meeting of EU Development Ministers at
1500 GMT.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Seminar "Energy Security - Fiction or Realistic
Goal?" with Czech central bank (CNB) board member Vladimir
Tomsik and Czech Ambassador for Energy Security Vaclav Bartuska
(1600 GMT).
Related news: []
============================NEWS================================
LISBON DEBATE DELAY: The Czech parliament said on Tuesday it
would probably delay debate on a European Union treaty that
requires ratification by all 27 members to bring about what
proponents call urgently needed reforms to bloc.
Story: [] Related news: []
CEE FX RALLY SPUTTERS OUT: The Polish zloty fell in line
with weakness in other regional currencies on Tuesday as
European shares declined, with dealers saying it was unaffected
by a larger than expected interest rate cut.
Story: [] Related news: []
VIG CONFIRMS PROFIT GOAL: Vienna Insurance Group <VIGR.VI>
on Tuesday confirmed its goal to post around 540 million euro
($710 million) pretax profit for 2008 and promised to keep its
dividend stable, but said it still could give no 2009 target.
Story: [] Related news: []
AID FOR CEE BANKING?: Austria on Tuesday launched an
initiative for an aid package to stabilise the emerging European
banking sector, calling on other western countries and the
European Union to contribute.
Story: [] Related news: []
EBRD CUTS CEE GROWTH OUTLOOK: The European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development slashed its growth forecasts for
emerging Europe to 0.1 percent for 2009 on Tuesday as the global
crisis pushes the region to the brink of contraction.
Story: [] Related news: []
NABUCCO GETS EU SUPPORT: European officials expressed
support on Tuesday for plans to build a pipeline bringing gas
from Central Asia to Western Europe but stopped short of
offering direct financing for the project.
Story: [] Related news: []
HAVEL IMPROVING: Former Czech President Vaclav Havel's
respiratory problems have improved and he may be discharged from
hospital on Thursday, a spokeswoman said.
Story: [] Related news: []
---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change
close on day in 2009
Czech Equities <> 769.2 769.2 +0.00 N/A
vs Euro <EURCZK=> 27.610 27.670 +0.22 -2.97
vs Dollar <CZK=> 20.874 20.814 -0.41 -8.56
U.S. Equities <> 8,175 8,116 +0.72 -6.86
Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600 GMT
=========================PRESS DIGEST==========================
BANKING LAW CHANGE: The Industry Ministry, together with the
Finance Ministry, is proposing a change in the law to allow
commercial banks to provide state-supported export loans.
Mlada Front Dnes, page B1
ORDERS DROPPING: A survey of 500 companies by a small- and
medium-sized business association found more than a third have
seen their orders drop 30-50 percent.
Mlada Fronta Dnes, page B3
ROOM FOR LOWER INTEREST RATES: The Czech central bank has
room to cut interest rates, board member Vladimir Tomsik told
Bloomberg, adding though he didn't see any "radical" reduction
due to the currency weakening.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 22
AEROFLOT CONFIRMS INTEREST IN CSA: Aeroflot <AFLT.MM>
confirmed it was interested in buying Czech Airlines (CSA).
Hospodarske Noviny, page 17
UNPAID BILLS RISE: The number of late payment cases
registered by the Solus association rose to 1.23 million in 2008
from 907,503, with the volume reaching 14.7 billion crowns
($701.3 million) from 11.3 billion.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 15
FITCH LOWERS CSOB: Fitch lowered the individual rating for
CSOB bank <KBC.BR> to "C" from "B/C" but left the bank's other
ratings unchanged along with a negative outlook.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 16
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
E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
(Compiled by Jason Hovet)
