Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on April 13

...

CURRENT ACCOUNT DATA

Central bank (CNB) releases February current account balance at 10 a.m. (0800 GMT).

The current account surplus hit 7.0 billion crowns ($336.7 million) , according to a Reuters poll of analysts.

[ID:nL11415110]

March monetary base is also due out at 10 a.m. (0800 GMT).

- For real-time economic data releases and market consensus forecasts, double click on the code in brackets:

PRESIDENT IN SENATE

President Vaclav Klaus speaks in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, at 11 a.m. (0900 GMT).

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

INTERVIEW: FINMIN EYES EXTRA BUDGET CUTS

The Czech fiscal deficit will exceed an earlier projection of 4 percent of GDP this year and budget cuts on top of a proposed tax and spending overhaul will be needed next year, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek told Reuters in an interview.

[nL12328893] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD-PLCY]

FINMIN MULLS EUROBOND

The Czech Republic may return to international bond markets with a Eurobond offering this year if foreign borrowing turns out cheaper than domestic debt issuance, Kalousek told Reuters.

[nL12292932] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-EUB]

FORMER FINMIN REBELS

Former Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty, a member of the ruling Civic Democrats (ODS), was quoted as telling the daily Lidove Noviny in an interview he would vote against a tax and spending overhaul proposed by the ODS-led cabinet unless his demands for changes are accepted.

The government needs every single vote in the divided parliament where it holds exactly half of the seats.

FACTBOX on tax and spending plans..........[ID:nL03553262]

SKODA UNIONS PLAN STRIKE

Workers at Volkswagen AG's Czech unit Skoda Auto rejected what the company called its final pay offer and plan a three-hour strike on April 17.

[nL12156136] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-VOWG.DE]

KBC RAISES CSOB STAKE

Belgian banking and insurance group KBC has raised its stake in Czech bank CSOB, giving it a total holding of 98.58 percent.

[nL12606915] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-KBKBt.BR]

HEALTH CARE REFORM PROPOSAL

Health Minister Tomas Julinek wants to make people to pay between 30 crowns and 90 crowns ($1.44-$4.33) in fees for visiting a physician, hospital or emergency service to raise up to 4 billion crowns a year for the ailing health care system, writes the daily Pravo.

It reported the goal is to reduce the number of surplus check-ups and doctor visits, and to reduce drug use waste.

Analysts have said the plan, which has yet to receive cabinet and parliamentary approval, could have some impact on drug maker Zentiva .

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ZNTVsp.PR]

GERMANY ON MISSILE SHIELD

The latest developments with Iran's nuclear programme reinforce the case for a U.S. missile shield to protect Europe from attacks, German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said.

[nL12364874] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-US-DIP]

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=20.77 Czech Crown)