Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on September 21

PRAGUE, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Thursday:

No economic data releases scheduled.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

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

GOVERNMENT HIKES PENSIONS

The new Czech minority government confirms the previous cabinet's plan to raise pensions by 16.9 billion crowns ($751.8 million) from January.

[ID:nL20877654] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

C.BANKER SEES RATE RISE

Central bank Vice-Governor Miroslav Singer joined a chorus of central bankers criticising the rise in the country's budget deficit. In a Bloomberg interview, he said the central bank may have to raise interest rates more than if the budgetwas healthy.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 22

NO BIOFUEL SUBSIDIES

The goverment voted against subsidising biofuels, which may lead to a slight rise in petrol prices.

Pravo, page 1

MINISTER MULLS AIRLINE BAILOUT

The Czech government may boost equity at the loss-making national carrier Czech Airlines in order to avoid its failure, Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL20452765] {RTRS-LEN-CZ-AIR]

POST SERVICE PRIVATISATION

The Interior Ministry wants to start preparing post service Ceska Posta for eventual privatisation.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 18

HOME CREDIT LAUNCHES NOTES Czech consumer loan group Home Credit launches a 3 billion crown ($133.6 million) domestic floating rate note due 2009, it said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL20226161] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ISU]

C.BANKER SAYS STATE FINANCES NOT UNDER CONTROL

Czech state finances are not under control and the country should start discussing a new euro entry strategy after a plan aiming at 2010 was not followed, daily Mlada fronta Dnes quotes central bank board member Michaela Erbenova as saying.

[ID:nL20457144] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

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: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net

((Reporting by Jan Lopatka, editing by ; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))