Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 31

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FINMIN FORECASTS

The Finance Ministry will release a quarterly update of its macroeconomic forecasts at 1300 GMT.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

UNIPETROL SELLS KAUCUK

Czech oil and chemicals group Unipetrol said has agreed with Poland's Dwory to sell off its synthetic rubber maker Kaucuk for 195 million euros.

[ID:nL30420441] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CHE]

PARLIAMENT MEETS

The lower house of parliament meets. Committees expected to debate U.S. request to build a radar in the Czech Republic as a part of a missile defence shield.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-US]

NEW PLANES

The Czech government was delivered first out of two new Airbus 319 planes for the use of high public officials and the army.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 4. [RTRS-LEN-CZ-AIR-ECI]

AERO AXES JOBS

Military jet maker Aero Vodochody, acquired by privately-held Penta Investments, said it would let go 450 out of its 1,644 employees.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 1. [RTRS-LEN-CZ-JOB]

DRUG CONSUMPTION DROPS

Spending on drugs fell 4 percent last year after restrictive measures by ex-health minister David Rath.

Mlada fronta Dnes, page 1. [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRU]

CROWN LOSES GROUND

The Czech crown dipped to its lowest level to the euro since late October on Tuesday as investors continued to pull out from currencies across central Europe.

[ID:nL30371021] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]

RATES ON HOLD

The Czech central bank (CNB) left interest rates on hold at its monthly board meeting last 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]

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)) ($1=21.84 Czech Crown)

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]