INSTANT VIEW 1-Czech Feb trade surplus well above forecast

...three times larger than the market expected 
after a 4.84 billion crown surplus in Fenruary 2006. 
 
KEY POINTS: 
(in bln CZK)           Feb        Jan        Feb fcast 
 balance              13.61      10.96         5.1 
(nominal y/y change in pct) 
 exports              19.5       13.8          n/a 
 imports              14.5       15.5          n/a 
 
 (For full table of trade data, click on........[ID:nPRA001232]) 
 
- The February monthly surplus is the largest ever. 
- According to seasonally-adjusted preliminary data, exports 
rise 0.8 percent in February from January while imports dip 1.2 
percent month-on-month. 
- A surplus in the category of machinery and transport equipment 
segment rises by 3.4 billion crowns year-on-year following a 
drop in the previous month. Exports in this area rise 20.2 
percent, while imports are up 22.7 percent. 
- In euro terms, exports rise 20.3 percent and imports by 15.2 
percent year-on-year in February, outpacing the growth rates in 
local currency terms because of a firming in the crown. 
 
BACKGROUND: 
- Market expectations before release              [ID:nL2940601] 
- Slovak Jan trade figures                       [ID:nL14299493] 
- Polish trade in Jan                            [ID:nWAR005477] 
- Hungary's Jan trade data                       [ID:nBUD001915] 
- Report on last Czech c.bank rate decision      [ID:nPRA0012xx] 
                                                 [ID:nLxxxxxxxx] 
 
- For further details on February foreign trade and other past 
data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Czech Statistical 
Bureau's website: 
    http://www.czso.cz/eng/csu.nsf/kalendar/2004-vzo 
 
- For LIVE Czech economic data releases, click on        
- Instant Views on other Czech data click on        [CZ/INSTANT] 
- Overview of Czech macroeconomic indicators            [CZ/ECI] 
 
- Key data releases in central Europe    [CEE-CONVERGENCE-WATCH] 
- For Czech money markets data click on                 
- Czech money guide                                       
- Czech benchmark state bond prices                    
- Czech forward money market rates