Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Sept 20

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

======================== ECONOMIC DATA ========================

No economic data are due for release until second-quarter foreign debt on Sept. 27.

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

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

Overview of economic data and forecasts..........

Updates on Czech currency.............................[CZK/]

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

GOVERNMENT APPROVES BUDGET - The government approved the 2008 central state budget draft, a key part of its aim to lower the overall public sector deficit to 2.95 percent of gross domestic product next year.

The budget sees a 70.8 billion crown ($3.60 billion) central government deficit, down from 91.3 billion crowns this year, due to higher tax revenues, welfare cuts and transfers from the European Union.

Story: [ID:nL19451672] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

=========================== EVENTS ============================

FISCAL REFORM APPROVED - The upper house of the Czech Senate gave the final approval on Wednesday to the centre-right government's fiscal reforms aimed at cutting the budget deficit.

Story: [ID:nPRA001508] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

OPPOSITION GAINS GROUND - The Czech leftist opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) overtook the ruling rightists in voter support for the first time since election in June 2006, a second opinion poll this week showed.

Story: [ID:L19843000] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

CEE CURRENT ACCOUNTS - Burgeoning current account deficits threaten to derail several post-Communist European economies and delay hopes of joining the euro zone early next decade.

Story: [ID:nL19857791] Related news [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MCE]

CEZ PRICES - Power firm CEZ announces 2008 electricity prices. News conference at 0900 GMT.

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

CEZ/MOL TIE-UP - CEZ may finalise a contract with Hungary's MOL on buying a roughly 8 percent stake in the Hungarian firm by mid-October.

Mlada fronta Dnes, page 10.

(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/