RPT-Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on July 11

                                
 PRAGUE, July 11 (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 + 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 - International conference on Missile Defence:
"Challenges in Europe" to continue.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DIP]
                                
 
====================== TOP NEWS ================================
                                
 SANOFI LAUNCHES ZENTIVA BID: French drugs maker
Sanofi-Aventis <SASY.PA> launched its previously announced 1,050
crowns ($70.46) per share counterbid for Czech drugs maker
Zentiva <ZNTVsp.PR> and said the offer is valid for ten weeks
from now.
                                
 Story: [IDnPRG000897] Related news: [RTRS-CZ-LEN-DRU]
                                
 
                                
 STRONG CROWN COULD HIT GROWTH: Growth in the Czech Republic
could drop dramatically if the crown remains strong, Czech
central bank's vice governor Miroslav Singer said, reiterating
statements from earlier this week.
                                
 Story: [ID:nSP341824] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
                                
 
                                
 CZECHS PROTEST RUSSIAN SHIELD "THREATS": The Czech Republic
is concerned about Russia's "threats" following the central
European country's signing a pact this week to build part of a
U.S. missile defence shield, the Defence Ministry said.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL10317561] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RU]
                                
 
                                
 GOVT SETTLES ARCELORMITTAL DISPUTE: ArcelorMittal <ISPA.AS>
has agreed to withdraw 26 billion crown ($1.74 billion) claims
against the Czech state in return for a stake in ArcelorMittal's
Czech unit, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL10264969] Related news; [RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,448.5  1,455.2   -0.46        -20.20
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  23.512   23.503   -0.04        +12.71
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  14.892   14.853   -0.22        +22.06
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  11,229   11,147   +0.73        -15.35
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
                                
 
 ====================== PRESS DIGEST ===========================
                                
 GREENS COULD FOLLOW FOREIGN MINISTER: Greens chairman Martin
Bursik said his party's ministers would resign if Foreign
Minister Karel Schwarzenberg decided to leave the government
over ethical concerns connected to a deputy vice-premier.
                                
 Pravo, page 1
                                
 
                                
 ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY AGAINST NUCLEAR IN CLIMATE POLICY: The
environment ministry is against including the expanded use of
nuclear energy in a new climate policy to be presented in
September.
                                
 Pravo, page 4
                                
 
                                
 TWO WORKERS FOUND DEAD AT OKD MINE: Two workers were found
dead in an OKD mine owned by New World Resources <NWRSsp.PR>.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page A4
                                
 
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: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 477;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
 (Compiled by Jason Hovet)