INSTANT VIEW 1-Czech Dec c/a gap widens more than mkt forecast

    The Czech current account deficit 
widened more than markets had expected to 16.26 billion crowns 
($747.6 million) in December, from a 11.15 billion crown gap a 
month earlier, data showed on Monday. 
    The 12-month rolling deficit more than doubled over a year 
ago to 151.13 billion crowns, or 4.7 percent of this year's 
estimated gross domestic product (GDP) according to Reuters' 
calculations, from 2.1 percent of GDP in 2005. 
 
KEY POINTS: 
(CZK billions)           Dec         Nov           Dec forecast 
Current Account         -16.26      -11.15         -12.00 
Financial Account        17.66       19.88           n/a 
Net Direct Investment    23.20        3.79           n/a 
 
 (For full table, double click on..................[nPRA001148]) 
 
- The monthly gap is mainly due to a 11.5 billion crown 
shortfall on the income balance, including dividend payouts and 
reinvested profits on foreign investment. The income deficit 
narrows from a 17.8 billion gap a month earlier. 
- The balance of foreign trade in both goods and services shows 
a 4.7 billion crown deficit for the month, following a 8.9 
billion surplus in November. 
- Net foreign direct investment inflows total 23.2 billion 
crowns, which includes 8.1 bilion crowns in reinvested profits. 
- Portfolio investments show a net 10.1 billion crown inflow, 
mainly due to purchases of local currency government bonds by 
foreign investors. 
 
BACKGROUND: 
- Analyst expectations before data release       [ID:nL01866382] 
- Czech Dec foreign trade figures                [ID:nL05800500] 
- Polish Nov C/A                                 [ID:nL16528975] 
- Slovak Nov C/A gap                             [ID:nPRG000216] 
- Hungary's Q3 C/A gap                           [ID:nL29754016] 
- Report on last Czech c.bank rate decision      [ID:nPRA001122] 
                                 [ID:nL25513531] [ID:nL02157584] 
 
LINKS: 
- For further details on December of payments numbers and past 
data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Czech National 
Bank's website: 
    http://www.cnb.cz/en/statistics/bop_stat/ 
 
- For LIVE Czech economic data releases, click on        
- Instant Views on other Czech data                 [CZ/INSTANT] 
- Overview of Czech macroeconomic indicators            [CZ/ECI] 
 
- Key data releases in central Europe    [CEE-CONVERGENCE-WATCH] 
- For Czech money markets data click on                 
- Czech money guide                                       
- Czech benchmark state bond prices                    
- Czech forward money market rates                       
 
 ((Writing by Marek Petrus; Editing by Alan Crosby; 
prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: 
marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477)) 
 ($1=21.75 Czech Crown) 
  Keywords: CZECH ECONOMY/BALANCE  
    

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]