Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 16

                                
 PRAGUE, Dec 16 (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 hours)

=========================ECONOMIC DATA=========================
                                
 Real-time economic data releases....................<ECONCZ>
                                
 Previous stories on Czech data.............[CZ-RTRS-LEN-ECI]
                                
 Overview of economic data and forecasts..........<CZ/ECON15>
                                
 Updates on CEE currencies............................[CEE/]
                                
 
============================EVENTS==========================
                                
 PRAGUE -The lower house of parliament to continue a session.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 
============================TOP NEWS==========================
                                
 BUDGET: The Czech lower house gave final approval on
Wednesday to the centre-right cabinet's 2011 central state
budget that cuts state spending and will enable the government
to reduce its overall budget deficit to 4.6 percent of GDP.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6BE1SD] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-GVD]
                                
 
                                
 MINISTER QUITS: Czech Environment Minister Pavel Drobil
resigned on Wednesday following allegations that he tried to
cover up corruption in his department.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6BE0Z2] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-POL]
                                
 
                                
 CEE MARKETS: Central European currencies were little changed
in thin pre-Christmas trade on Wednesday as rate hike
expectations in Hungary and Poland underpinned their units
despite growing fears the euro zone debt crisis will escalate.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6BE0J5] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-FRX]
                                
 
                                
 CEE POWER: Czech day-ahead power prices eased on Wednesday
with increased wind generation in the region weighing on prices
despite cold, snowy weather that boosted demand, traders said. 
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE6BE1SR] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-DRV]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency    Latest     Prev   Pct change Pct change
                                
                                 close    on day     in 2010
 vs Euro    <EURCZK=>     25.132     25.141    0.04       4.51
 vs Dollar     <CZK=>     19.009     18.823   -0.99      -3.44
 Czech Equities <.PX>  1,192.5    1,192.5      0.34       6.73
 U.S. Equities <.DJI> 11,457.47  11,476.54    -0.17       9.87
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT

 ==========================PRESS DIGEST=========================
                                
 CZECH COAL: According to sources, investor Pavel Tykac's
Indoverse group will buy for 10.3 billion crowns ($545.5
million) the remaining 50 percent share in Czech Coal, giving it
full control over the mining group that is a supplier to power
group CEZ <CEZPsp.PR>.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page C1
                                
 
                                
 ECM DEBT: Developer ECM Real Estate Investments <ECMPsp.PR>
plans to convert half of its debt into equity, its chief
executive said.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 23
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy.

                                
 For Instant Views of key economic data click on
                                
[CZ/INSTANT]
 For summary of economic data and forecasts          <CZ/ECON01>
 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         <G7TODAY>

 For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets:
 Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX <.PX>

                                
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