Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 15

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INDICATOR RELEASES

Statistical Bureau (CSU) releases December producer prices, November industrial output and foreign trade prices at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT).

- For real-time economic indicators and market consensus forecasts, please double click on the following code:

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

CENTRAL BANKERS

Central bank (CNB) board member Mojmir Hampl on Friday poured cold water on the idea floated by a fellow CNB policymaker that interest rates could be cut to offset the strength of the crown.

[ID:nL12857684] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

New Czech CNB board member Vladimir Tomsik joined other CNB policymakers to warn in a newspaper interview published on Monday that a widening external deficit might weaken the crown.

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CROWN WEAKER

The Czech crown slid to 2-1/2-week lows versus the euro, as expectations of a further widening in both the external deficit and the yield gap versus higher euro zone borrowing costs weighed on the market.

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- For regular updates on Czech crown moves, click on [CZK/].

C/A DATA IN SPOTLIGHT

The Czech current account deficit is seen at 11.50 billion crowns ($538.1 million) in November , according to a Reuters poll of 12 analysts.

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MP CONSIDERS CROSSING FLOOR

Leftist independent deputy Milos Melcak may support Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's centre-right government, which needs one deputy to cross the floor to help him win a confidence vote, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

[ID:nL1332987]

President Vaclav Klaus appointed Topolanek's three-party coalition government earlier this week and it must win a confidence vote on Jan. 19 in the lower house where it holds half of the 200 seats.

- For most recent news on Czech politics, double click on the code in brackets: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

- For FACTBOX on key posts in the new government, double click on [ID:nL08820235].

- For FACTBOX on key points of the coalition agreement, see [ID:nL08658091].

KLAUS

According to an opinion poll carried out by the SC&C agency, 67 percent of Czechs want Vaclav Klaus to be re-elected as President.

Mlada fronta Dnes, page 1

Overview of past economic data and market forecasts

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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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]