PRAGUE, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Thursday:
ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hour)
======================== ECONOMIC DATA ========================
November foreign trade data at 0800 GMT.
December foreign exchange reserves data at 0900 GMT.
Q4 government debt duration data at 1300 GMT.
Real-time economic data releases....................<ECONCZ>
Previous stories on Czech data.............[]
Overview of economic data and forecasts..........<CZ/ECON15>
Updates on Czech currency.............................[]
============================EVENTS==============================
PRAGUE - Car Importers' Association (SDA) to hold a news
conference on full-year 2008 passenger car registrations (0900
GMT).
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Czech central bank governing board to hold a
regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary
policy issues.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to introduce
members of the National economic council. New conference at 1000
GMT.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Informal Ministerial Meeting of the General Affairs
Council. News conference at 1515 GMT.
Related news: []
PRAGUE - Czech President Vaclav Klaus to meet his Polish
counterpart Lech Kaczynski. News conference around 1800 GMT.
Related news: []
========================= TOP NEWS =============================
GAS FLOW VIA UKRAINE REMAIN HALTED: Gas supplies from Russia
to the Czech Republic via Ukraine remained halted on Thursday,
the country's main supplier said.
Story: [] Related news: []
EASTERN GAS FLOW HALTED: Gas supplies through the main
transit pipeline from Russia to Western Europe stopped
completely overnight, the Czech and Slovak gas companies said on
Wednesday.
Story: [] Related news: []
EU LOOKING AT TOUGHER GAS ROW STANCE: Czech Prime Minister
Mirek Topolanek warned on Wednesday that the European Union
would take a more forceful approach towards the Russia-Ukraine
gas row if supplies to Europe are not resumed by Thursday.
Story: [] Related news: []
CEE FX GIVE UP GAINS: Central Europe's currencies gave up
early gains on Wednesday as faltering risk appetite in the wake
of grim economic news around the world triggered a bout of
profit-taking.
Story: [] Related news: []
---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change
close on day in 2008
vs Euro <EURCZK=> 26.285 26.290 +0.00 +0.80
vs Dollar <CZK=> 19.236 19.212 +0.05 -5.37
U.S. Equities <> 08,770 09,015 -2.72 -33.89
Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
=========================PRESS DIGEST==========================
MINORITY COALITION MEMBER WARNS PM: A group of Christian
Democrat deputies warned Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek against
recalling their party head from the government as part of a
planned re-shuffle.
Mlada Fronta Dnes, page A2
ARCELORMITTAL LAYING OFF CZECH WORKERS: ArcelorMittal's
<ISPA.AS> Czech unit will lay off up to 350 employees out of
7,450 due to the global economic crisis.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 14
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy.
For Instant Views of key economic data click on []
For summary of economic data and forecasts <CZ/ECON01>
For diary of forthcoming Czech events []
For calendar of east European economic indicators []
TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets []
TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch []
For an economic indicator diary for the euro zone, the United
States and other Group of Seven countries see <G7TODAY>
For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets:
Warsaw WIG20 <> Budapest BUX <> Prague PX <>
News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474;
fax: +420 224 229 935
E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
(Compiled by Jason Hovet)
