Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 24

...

BOND AUCTION

The central bank is due to auction 6 billion crowns worth of 3-year government bonds . bids are due by 1100 GMT.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

SICK PAY REFORM PLAN

Labour Minister Petr Necas seeks to change the sick pay system in order to slash absenteeism. No sick pay would be paid for the first three days of illness.

Hospodarke Noviny, page 1.

CONSTITUTION DEBATE

Europeans should draft an entirely new and lighter charter for the EU than the constitution which was rejected by Dutch and French voters, new Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said.

[ID:nL233027] [CZ-RTRS-LEN-POL-DIP]

- 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].

STOCKS AT RECORD HIGHS

Czech stocks closed at fresh all-time highs on Tuesday, driven higher by shares in Erste Bank and developer Orco .

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-STX]

VISA MEETING

Officials from the United States and 13 mostly east European countries meet in Prague on Wednesday to discuss plans to ease visa restrictions.

[ID:nL23717009] [RTRS-CZ-DIP]

AIRPORT TRAFFIC RISES

Passenger traffic at the Prague Airport rose 7.5 percent last year to 11.58 millionm people. The government aims to privatise the airport.

[ID:nL2397145] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-AIR]

WOOD RAISES ERSTE, CUTS KOMERCNI

Brokerage Wood & Company raised its price target on Erste Bank to 68 euros from 62 on Tuesday, while maintaining a 'buy' recommendation on the stock.

[ID:nL23891739] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RCH]

RATES SEEN ON HOLD UNTIL AT LEAST MARCH

The Czech central bank (CNB) is likely to keep interest rates on hold in January and delay a further rise for at least two months with inflation below target and the crown firm, a Reuters poll showed.

[nL1867905]

ANALYSTS' INDIVIDUAL FORECASTS.................[ID:nL18812506] RECENT CNB POLICYMAKERS' COMMENTS..............[ID:nL1839400] WHO IS WHO ON CNB POLICY BOARD.................[ID:nL18819946]

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

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

((Compiled by Jan Lopatka; 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))

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]