Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on April 6

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NEW BENCHMARK BOND

The Czech Finance Ministry has set the coupon for the new 5-year benchmark state bond at 3.55 percent per annum. An auction of an 8 billion crown ($382 million) inaugural tranche of the paper takes place on April 11.

[nPRA001235] [RTRS-CZ-DBT-GVD]

FITCH AFFIRMS RATING

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Czech Republic's Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating at 'A' with a Stable Outlook and Local Currency Issuer Default Rating at 'A+' with a Stable Outlook.

[nWLB7447] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-AAA]

The crown gained ground on Thursday after the Fitch rating agency report.

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- For previous updates on currency moves click on [CZK/].

CAR SALES JUMP

New passenger and light utility car registrations jumped 12.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter to 42,929 units.

[nL0582389] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-AUT]

GE PAY COMPENSATION

GE Money Bank agreed to pay 800 million crowns ($38.20 million) to shareholders of failed Czech bank Agrobanka which will in exchange withdraw the petition to declare bankruptcy which could have partly affected GE Money Bank, writes the daily Hospodarske Noviny. The U.S. bank took over most of Agrobanka's assets after its failure under central bank guarantees.

For overview of economic data and forecasts click on 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=20.94 Czech Crown)