Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 23

...Republic: GMT + 2 hours) 
 
 ======================== ECONOMIC DATA ======================== 
    No economic data are due for release until September money 
supply statistics  on Oct. 31. 
 
    Real-time economic data releases.................... 
 
    Previous stories on Czech data.............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI] 
    Overview of economic data and forecasts.......... 
 
 ========================== TOP STORY ========================== 
    CROWN EXTENDS RALLY TO RECORD HIGHS: The Czech crown firmed 
to life-time highs against both the euro and the dollar for a 
third straight session on Monday, benefiting from a robust 
economy and its status as a central European safe haven. 
    Story: [nL2281844] 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX] [EMRG/FRX] 
    Updates on Czech currency.............................[CZK/] 
 
 =========================== EVENTS ============================ 
    PENTAGON CHIEF IN TOWN: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates 
meets Czech President Vaclav Klaus at 0715 and PM Mirek 
Topolanek later. News conference with Topolanek at 1120. 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-US-DIP] 
     
    BUDGET DRAFT: The lower house of parliament reconvenes for a 
session. It is expected to discuss the timetable for approving 
the government's draft 2008 state budget. 
    Related story: [ID:nL17528041] 
    Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL] 
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ 
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change 
                                 close   on day       in 2007 
 Czech Equities   1,848.4  1,876.1   -1.48        +16.33 
 vs Euro       27.220   27.210   -0.04         +1.03 
 vs Dollar        19.136   19.219   +0.43         +8.80 
 U.S. Equities    13,567   13,522   +0.33         +8.86 
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 
 
 ==================== ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS ==================== 
    FOREIGN WORKERS: The Czech government agreed to ease 
conditions for employing foreign workers from outside the 
European Union, seeking to alleviate pressures on the labour 
market in the fast-growing central European country. 
    Story: [nL22269006] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-JOB] 
     
    TELEFONICA 02 PROFITS: Net nine-month profit at Telefonica 
O2 Czech Republic  is seen rising by 12 percent, 
driven by mobile and data services, a Reuters poll showed. 
    Story: [nL22201610] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-SPTTsp.PR] 
 
 ======================= PRESS DIGEST ========================== 
    OPPOSITION TAKES GOVT TO COURT OVER FISCAL REFORM: The 
opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) have filed a complaint 
against the government's public finance reform with the 
Constitutional Court. The Social Democrats are demanding its 
total or partial cancellation. They point to procedural errors 
and real clashes with the Constitution. 
    Pravo, page 2 
 
 
 (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          
 
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  Keywords: CZECH FACTORS/ 
    

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]