Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on June 18

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ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours)

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* April retail sales due out at 0700 GMT.

Real-time economic data releases...................

Previous stories on Czech data............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI]

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========================== TOP STORY ==========================

The Czech government will push for "flexibility" in the reform of European institutions that will allow the return of some authorities to the national level, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said.

Story: [ID:nL15768990]

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood firm on European Union voting rights on Sunday despite dogged resistance from Poland four days before a summit due to launch talks on a new treaty reforming EU institutions.

Story: [nL17609330]

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-EU]

==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ====================

GOVERNMENT MEETS

The government meets in a regular session. News conference due at 1100 GMT.

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

CONFIDENCE VOTE

The leftist Czech opposition Social Democrats called a vote of no-confidence in the centre-right government for this week, but are likely to fall short of votes to recall the shaky administration.

Story: [ID:nL15518669]

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

CROWN SEEN HALTING SLIDE

The Czech crown is seen halting its slide after this week's fall to 14-month lows versus the euro within 3 months and returning to its long-term appreciation trend over the next 12 months, a Reuters poll showed.

Story: [ID:nL15111662]

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]

CME UPGRADED

CA IB International Markets has raised its rating for shares of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) to "hold" from "sell".

Story: [ID:nL15391448]

Related news: [RTRS=LEN-CZ=RCH]

OPPOSITION GAINS GROUND

The Czech opposition has slightly narrowed the gap behind the centre-right government, an opinion poll showed.

Story: [ID:nL15791241]

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

UNIONS MULL STRIKE

Labour unions are mulling the option of calling a general strike over the government's fiscal reform proposals.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 1.

TAX TREATY

The Finance Ministry has entered talks with the Netherlands in order to try change a bilateral investment treaty between the two countries, but it itself is not very optimistic a change will be possible. The Czechs want to tax more corporate income.

Mlada fronta Dnes, page B3.

(Reuters has not verified any of the newspaper reports that may be quoted above and does not vouch for their accuracy.)

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Keywords: CZECH FACTORS/