Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 21

...

CEZ STAKE SALE AND BUY-BACK

CEZ says it would ask shareholders to approve an up to 10 percent share buy-back.

[ID:nL2020142] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEZPsp.PR]

CEZ SHARE OWNERSHIP MAY BE RESTRICTED

Accumulating a large stake in CEZ may be forbidden in the future by a special law that may limit ownership at perhaps 10 percent, Industry and trade Minister Martin Riman said.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 16.

- For most recent stories on the CEZ stake sale, double click on [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEZPsp.PR-MRG].

PEGAS EARNINGS

Artificial textile maker Pegas Nonwovens posted a 22.3 percent drop in net profit last year to 20.71 million euros due to higher costs of debt servicing.

[ID:nL20735126] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PGSNsp.PR]

INTERVIEW: REFORMS BY AUTUMN

The Czech right-of-centre government will either win parliamentary backing for an overhaul of bloated social spending by this autumn or resign, Deputy Prime Minister Petr Necas told Reuters.

[ID:nL20557220] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

CENTRAL BANKERS MEET

Czech central bank's governing board to hold a regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary policy issues.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

BOND AUCTION

The Finance Ministry is offering 7 billion crowns worth of 15-year government bonds . Bids are due by 1100 GMT.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

Overview of past economic data and market forecasts For Instant Views of key economic data click on [CZ/INSTANT] For summary of economic data and forecasts 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

For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX

News editor of the day: Alan Crosby on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net

($1=20.87 Czech Crown)