Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 26

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NO ECONOMIC DATA RELEASE DUE ON MONDAY

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[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

KLAUS CALLS MERKEL'S SUGGESTION "JUST A DREAM"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed European Union leaders at a 50th anniversary summit to reform the bloc's creaking institutions by 2009, but met resistance from sceptical Polish and Czech presidents.

[ID:nL25308061] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-EU-DIP]

PHILIP MORRIS SHARES TUMBLE

Shares in Philip Morris CR fell as much as 13.7 percent to a seven-month low after the Czech cigarette maker's net profit dropped well below market expectations.

[ID:nL23579307] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-TABKsp.PR]

OPPOSITION LEADER

Czech opposition leader Jiri Paroubek said on Friday his leftist Social Democrats would help keep the fragile centre-right government afloat until at least next year to buy time to prepare for the next election.

[ID:nL23554495]

- For most recent stories on Czech politics, double click on [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL].

CROWN STEADY NEAR 28 VS EURO

The Czech crown held steady on the firmer side of the psychological 28.00 per euro level on Friday, awaiting next week's interest rate-setting meetings of regional central banks to offer the market any new direction.

[ID:nL23729953]

- For regular reports on the crown, double click on [CZK/].

POLL: RATES SEEN ON HOLD

The central bank will keep interest rates flat at its monthly meeting on Thursday and hold them steady for several more months before tightening policy, a Reuters poll showed.

[ID:nL21219974]

- For individual poll answers, click on [ID:nL21449308].

- For earlier interest-rate predictions, see [CNB/INT].

- For FACTBOX on central European interest rate decisions, double click on [ID:nL23653755].

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