Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 26

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RATES ON HOLD

The Czech central bank (CNB) left interest rates on hold at its monthly board meeting on Thursday, and gave the market a clear signal that policy in the European Union member was unlikely to be tightened in the coming months.

[ID:nL25513531] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

HIGHLIGHTS from c.bank news conference: [ID:nL25636968]

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE

January business confidence indicators are due out at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT).

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

MERKEL IN PRAGUE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Prague on Friday to discuss the European Constitution. The senior Czech coalition party, the Civic Democrats, reject the treaty and propose drafting a new one.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-DIP]

STOCKS AT RECORD HIGHS

Czech stocks closed at fresh all-time highs on Thursday, with the PX index ending up 1.16 percent at 1,675.4 points.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-STX]

VISA MEETING

U.S. visa rules for a select group of American allies may be loosened before the Bush Administration leaves office in two years, a senior U.S. government official said in Prague.

[ID:nL24327381] [RTRS-CZ-DIP]

ENERGY POLICY

The new Czech government set up a commission to study covering future energy needs, a thorny issue drawing a battle line in the ruling coalition which includes the fiercely anti-nuclear Green Party.

[ID:nL24873146] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ENR]

SNOW CLOSES PRAGUE AIRPORT

Snowing has closed the Prague airport early on Wednesday. It was expected to reopen on Thursday morning.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-WEA]

URANIUM MINING

State-owned uranium miner Diamo is considering an expansion and has approached power firm CEZ with an offer to co-finance it. Australia's Uran Limited has also shown interest in research and possibly mining in the country.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 1

MINISTER QUITS

Non-partisan Culture Minister Helena Trestikova has resigned from the new cabinet, saying she was not willing to give in to pressure by political parties to appoint their representatives as deputy ministers.

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

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]