Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Feb 1

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PMI

January purchasing managers' index will be released at 0830 GMT.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

JANUARY BUDGET

End-January budget balance due to be released sometime in the afternoon.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

CENTRAL BANK MEETS

The central bank's board holds a weekly meeting, not devoted to monetary policy.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

UNIPETROL WARNS ON STOGPPAGES

PRAGUE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Production halts required by plant upgrades will significantly impact profits at Czech oil processor Unipetrol this year, Chief Executive Francois Vleugels says.

[ID:nL31661483] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CHE]

FINMIN FORECASTS

The Finance Ministry released its quarterly economic forecasts on Thursday, cutting inflation and slightly raising growth outlook for this year.

[ID:nL31735126] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

U.S. RADAR BASE

The Czech government may face a tough task to push through parliament a plan to allow the United States to build a radar base as a part of its planned missile defence, comments by political parties show.

[ID:nL31732435] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DIP]

GOVERNMENT SETS OUT ON REFOM COURSE

The new Czech government has set fiscal and tax reforms as its priority, but its weak position in parliament is likely to hamper changes as the EU member tries to get back on track to adopt the euro.

[ID:nL31687253] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

NO BIG PRIVATISATIONS IN 2007

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek said on Wednesday he does not expect any selloffs of major state-held firms in 2007 other than a previously announced sale of a small stake in energy producer CEZ.

[ID:nL31763877] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL-GVD]

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]