Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 2

...Republic: GMT + 2 hours) 
 
 ======================== ECONOMIC DATA ======================== 
 
    No economic data are due for release on Thursday. 
    Real-time economic data releases.................... 
 
 -------------------- RELEASED INDICATORS ---------------------- 
    BUDGET: The central state budget showed an 18.4 billion 
crown ($898.4 million) surplus for the month of July, boosting 
the year-to-date surplus to 19.7 billion crowns. 
    Instant View: [nL01240378] Table: [nPRA001416] 
    PMI: The Czech Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) hit a new 
survey high at the start of the third quarter, pointing to the 
strongest overall improvement in business conditions in just 
over six years of data collection. 
    Instant View: [nL01313203] Table: [nPRA001415] 
    Previous stories on Czech data............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI] 
    Overview of economic data and forecasts......... 
    Updates on Czech currency............................[CZK/] 
 
 ========================== TOP STORY ========================== 
    CME : Central European Media Enterprises 
(CME) releases Q2 results before the U.S. stock market opening 
at 1330. Teleconference to discuss results scheduled for 1400. 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CETV.O] 
    CME is close to acquiring the small teleshopping channel Top 
TV in the Czech Republic, the business weekly Euro said in its 
online edition. 
    Story: [nL01856806] 
 
 =========================== EVENTS ============================ 
    T-BILL AUCTION: The Finance Ministry offers a tranche of the 
39-week Treasury bills through an auction to be conducted by the 
central bank. Deadline for bids due at 1000. 
    Auction details and results: [CNB05] 
     
    C.BANK NON-POLICY MEETING: The central bank (CNB) governing 
board holds a regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to 
discuss monetary policy issues. The CNB does not usually publish 
any statement following non-policy board sessions. 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN] 
 
 ==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ==================== 
    INFLATION TO PICK UP: Consumer inflation is likely to have 
quickened to its fastest pace in 10 months in July, a Reuters 
poll showed, reinforcing the case for higher interest rates in 
the months to come. 
    Story: [nL01772578] Table: [nL01756798] 
    Previous polls on economic indicator releases: [POLL/CZ] 
     
    UNIPETROL : Unipetrol expects to save "hundreds 
of millions of crowns" annually after merging its petrochemicals 
and trading businesses, Chief Executive Francois Vleugels said. 
    Story: [nL01417952] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CETV.O] 
     
    KOMERCNI BANKA : The only listed Czech lender is 
expected to have made a 5 percent rise in first-half net profits 
as credit volumes continued to expand fast, a Reuters poll 
showed. 
    Story: [nL01899290] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-BKOMsp.PR] 
    Recommendations on Czech blue chip stocks:  
     
    PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: The first round of the presidential 
election could be held in the parliament on Feb. 7 or Feb. 8 
next year, says Lower House Speaker Miloslav Vlcek. The head of 
the lower chamber is the one who calls the joint meeting of 
parliament and Senate at which the head of state is elected. 
    Daily Pravo, page 2 
     
    FOOD PRICES: Food prices may rise 10 percent this year due 
to rising grain prices globally. Farmers expect steady pressure 
on a gradual rise in food prices, reflecting a 30 percent hike 
in wheat and other grain prices. 
    Mlada fronta Dnes, page 1 
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ 
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change 
                                 close   on day       in 2007 
 PX Index        1,747.8  1,789.8   -2.35        +10.00 
 vs Euro      28.020   27.980   -0.14         -1.86 
 vs Dollar       20.505   20.454   -0.25         +1.54 
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 
 
 
 (Reuters has not verified any of the newspaper reports that may 
be quoted above and does not vouch for their accuracy.) 
 
 
 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 
 
 

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]