Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Feb 8

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JOBLESS NUMBERS

January unemployment data due out at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT).

- For real-time economic data releases and market consensus forecasts, double click on the code in brackets:

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

ORCO NEWS CONFERENCE

Developer Orco Property Group holds a news conference in Warsaw at 12 p.m. (1100 GMT).

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ORCO.PA]

T-BILL AUCTION

The finance ministry offers a tranche of 26-week Treasury bills through an auction to be conducted by the central bank.

Bids are due by 12 p.m. (1100 GMT).

- For auction details and results, click on .

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-MMT]

CBANK HOLDS NON-POLICY MEETING

The central bank governing board holds a regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary policy issues.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]

RATES MAY GO EITHER WAY

Interest rates could either rise or fall in the Czech central bank's next step, central bank (CNB) policymaker Vladimir Tomsik told Reuters, differing from market views that the next move in rates will be upwards.

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The CNB needs to weigh a possible cut in its 3 percent inflation target to bolster policy credibility and reflect a natural firming in the crown, Tomsik said in the first foreign media interview since his December appointment as one of two new members of the seven-strong CNB policy board.

[nL06588757] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PLCY]

UPDATED CONSUMER BASKET

The statistics bureau (CSU) has published an updated basket for the consumer price index (CPI) on its official Web site www.czso.cz, raising the weight of housing as well as transport costs at the expense of foodstuffs.

[nL07789504]

INFLATION SEEN TICKING UP

Inflation is likely to have 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.

The data, calculated on the updated basket, are due out on Feb. 14.

[ID:nL01866382] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

VICE-PM INVESTIGATED

The Senate voted to lift the immunity of Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek, handing him over to the police who suspect him of taking a bribe when he was the mayor of an eastern Czech town.

[nL07789504] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said he saw no reason to ask Cunek to leave the cabinet, writes the daily 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: Alan Crosby on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net

((Compiled by Marek Petrus; 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]