Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Sept 3

                                
 PRAGUE, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Wednesday.
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 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 Czech currency.............................[CZK/]

============================= EVENTS= ========================
                                
 PRAGUE - 10-year government bond auction <CZ1001903=>.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FOD]
                                
 AMSTERDAM - Drug maker Zentiva <ZNTVsp.PR> to hold an
extraordinary shareholders' meeting.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRU]
                                
 PRAGUE - The Czech cabinet to hold a regular session. News
conference at 1100 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
                                
 PRAGUE - Online interview with Czech real estate developer
ECM Real Estate Investments <ECMPsp.PR> CEO Milan Janku on
www.patria.cz at 0900 GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-REAM]
 ========================= TOP NEWS ============================
                                
 CURRENCIES STEADY: Emerging European currencies steadied
after recent losses in afternoon trade on Tuesday, with
Hungary's forint recovering after a bout of political turmoil.
                                
Story: [ID:nL3367169] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRXS]
                                
 
                                
 GRAIN HARVEST UP: The Czech 2008 grain harvest has reached
7.58 million tonnes, an 18.9 percent rise over 2007, with 98.99
percent of the harvest completed by Sept. 1, data on the
Agriculture Ministry's website showed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL2695989] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FOD]
======================OTHER NEWS==============================
                                
 ERSTE UPS CEZ PRICE TARGET: Erste Bank raised its price
target for CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> to 1,316 crowns ($76.87) from 1,255
crowns and reiterated its 'hold' rating for the Czech power
utility, citing an upside potential in CEZ's future generation
mix.
                                
  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ELG]
---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,471.2  1,467.6   +0.25        -18.95
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  24.700   24.680   -0.08         +7.29
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  17.104   16.990   -0.69         +6.21
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  11,517   11,544   -0.23        -13.18
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500

====================== PRESS DIGEST===========================
                                
 UNIONS CALL FOR PAY RISE: An eight percent rise in nominal
wages next year is the minimum possible increase, a trade union
leader said. Many trade unions will ask for at least a 10
percent rise.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page B1
                                
 
                                
 IBM MOVES SEAT TO PRAGUE: US computer company IBM <IBM.N>
will move its central and eastern European headquarters to
Prague from Vienna.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 CEZ STARTED TO TRADE GAS: Czech power group CEZ <CEZPsp.PR>
started trading in natural gas.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 17
                                
 
                                
 ECM SEES TOUGH LENDING CONDITIONS: Conditions have worsened
with regards to raising project financing but Czech developer
ECM <ECMPsp.PR> can still find funding for its projects, chief
executive Milan Janku 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>

                                
 News editor of the day: Mike Winfrey on +420 224 190 479;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
 (Compiled by Jana Mlcochova)