Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 23

                                
 PRAGUE, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Friday.
                                
 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 CEE currencies.............................[CEE/]

===========================EVENTS==============================
                                
 PRAGUE - U.S. Vice president Joe Biden visits Prague to
discuss security ties and energy issues with Czech leaders.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-US-DIP]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - The lower house of parliament to continue a
session. First reading of 2010 budget draft on the agenda.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - Czech central bank chief Zdenek Tuma opens a
seminar on financial regulation. Speakers include deputy central
bank chiefs from Hungary and the Czech Republic as well as a
range of academics and EU regulators.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-REGS]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - Oil firm Unipetrol <UNPEsp.PR> to release
third-quarter trading statement including information on
margins.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CHE]
                                
 
==========================TOP NEWS============================
                                
 
                                
 BUDAPEST/PRAGUE - Central European currencies retreated on
Thursday, hit by dollar firming that pushed the Czech crown to
an 11-week low, but investors jumped for Hungary bonds at a
regular auction in a continued rally.
                                
 [ID:nLM437853]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - The Czechs may raise the idea of taking a stake in
an oil pipeline running from Italy to Germany during a visit on
Friday by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Czech Industry and
Trade minister Tomas Huener said.
                                
 [ID:nLM562929]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - Several CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> managers exercised stock
options last week, buying and selling some shares in the Czech
power group, central bank records showed.
                                
 [ID:nLM473937]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2009
 Czech Equities <.PX>   1151.2    1151.2    -1.05      34.14
vs Euro   <EURCZK=>       25.937    25.955   0.07       3.05
vs Dollar    <CZK=>       17.278    17.279   0.01       9.61
 U.S. Equities <.DJI>  10081.31   9949.36    1.33      14.87
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600

==========================PRESS DIGEST========================
                                
 JOE BIDEN VISITS: During talks in Prague on Friday, U.S.
Vice President Joe Biden will support a planned bid by
Westinghouse to build a nuclear power station in the Czech
Republic.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 4.
                                
 Biden may also offer to supply F-15 or F-16 fighter planes
to the Czechs.
                                
 Pravo, page 2.
                                
 
                                
 PARLIAMENT SHIFTS: The centrist Christian Democrats may
support policy initiatives by the leftist parties in parliament,
which would allow to approve legislation such as cancellation of
healthcare fees.
                                
 Pravo, page 2.
                                
 
                                
 HOTELS FOR SALE: Hundreds of hotels are for sale due to the
financial crisis.
                                
 E15, page 1
                                
 
                                
 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 Jason Hovet)