Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Nov 16

PRAGUE, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Thursday:

NON-POLICY C.BANK MEETING

Central bank board holds a regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary policy issues.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

NO ECONOMIC DATA ARE DUE FOR RELEASE

- For calendar of real-time economic indicator releases and consensus market forecasts, double click on <ECONCZ>.

PENSION REFORM

Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas holds a news conference on pension reform at 2 p.m. (1300 GMT).

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

CEZ PROFIT JUMP LOWER THAN EXPECTED

CEZ <CEZPsp.PR>, central Europe's largest utility group, posted a weaker-than-expected 51 percent rise in third-quarter net profit on Wednesday, leading investors to sell after the share's recent rise to record highs.

[nL15593877] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEZPsp.PR]

RETAIL SALES

Retail sales growth slowed to a slightly weaker than expected 5.2 percent year-on-year in September, but the figures still confirmed this year's revival in consumer spending that may spark a rate hike by early 2007.

[CZ/INSTANT] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

RIGHTISTS WIDEN LEAD

The Czech rightist Civic Democrats have widened their lead over the leftist Social Democrats as the country struggles through a parliamentary crisis that resulted from an inconclusive election, a poll showed.

[nL15680560] [ID:nL14373253] [ID:nL13927734]

- For most recent news on Czech politics, click on [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL].

Overview of past economic data and market forecasts <CZ/ECON15> For Instant Views of key economic data click on [CZ/INSTANT] For summary of economic data and forecasts <CZ/ECON01> 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 <G7TODAY>

For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20> Budapest BUX <.BUX> Prague PX <.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

((Compiled by Marek Petrus; Reuters Messaging: rm://marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; e-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com or marek.petrus@reuters.com; Tel: +420 224 190 477))