Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Feb 2

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CENTRAL BANK MINUTES, CPI FORECAST

The central bank will release minutes from its Jan. 25 monetary policy meeting at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). The bank's board voted unanimously to keep rates steady.

The bank will also release details of its new quarterly forecast at 9 a.m.

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INFLATION SEEN TICKING UP

Czech inflation jumped to 1.9 percent on an annual basis in January as regulated price hikes and food prices feed into consumer prices, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday. The data are due out on Feb. 14.

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PMI Growth in Czech manufacturing activity accelerated at the start of 2007 to the second-highest level on the Purchasing Managers' Index survey to date.

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JANUARY BUDGET

The Czech central state budget showed a surplus of 5.03 billion crowns ($233 million) at the end of January, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

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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.

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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]