Czech c.banker says too early to make a rate call

...interest rates should rise as soon as this month.

He said he needed to see staff analysis of inflation pressures, which will be ready for the May 31 central bank board meeting, and his own deeper look at core inflation before making a firm stance on policy.

"We are watching and closely evaluating the risk of a delay because the inflation forecast is consistent with a gradual rise of interest rates on the entire forecast horizon," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.

Tomsik is seen as being rather on the dovish side of the central bank's seven-member board.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]