Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 5

                                
 PRAGUE, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Tuesday:
                                
 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/]
                                
 
====================== TOP NEWS ================================
                                
 ZENTIVA NET PROFIT LAGS: Net profit at Czech generic drugs
maker Zentiva <ZNTVsp.PR> lagged forecasts in the second quarter
due to a write-down of fixed assets, the company said on Monday.
                                
Story: [ID:nL4506187]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRU]
                                
 
                                
 JUNE TRADE SURPLUS ABOVE FCAST: The Czech foreign trade
balance posted a much larger-than-expected 13.9 billion crowns
($905.3 million) surplus in June, data showed on Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL4690763]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]
                                
 
                                
 UNIPETROL TO SHUT ETHYLEN UNIT: Czech oil group Unipetrol
<UNPEsp.PR> will shut down its ethylene unit for repairs for
three weeks in October, the company said on Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL4127720] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-OIL]
                                
 
                                
 KOMERCNI H1 NET SEEN UP: Komercni Banka <BKOMsp.PR>, the
only listed Czech bank, is expected to report a 14.1 percent
rise in its net profit for the first half on continuing demand
for loans, a Reuters poll showed on Monday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL4218990]  Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-BNK]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,440.0  1,446.7   -0.46        -20.67
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  23.982   23.982    0.00         +9.50
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  15.422   15.384   -0.25        +15.18
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  11,284   11,326   -0.37        -14.93
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
====================== PRESS DIGEST ===========================
                                
LEASING VOLUMES LAG: The volume of leasing loans fell 11
percent year on year in the first half of 2008 to 50 billion
crowns ($3.25 billion) due to the government tax reform.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 14
                                
 
                                
 CETELEM TO CONVERT TO BANK: BNP Paribas' <BNPP.PA> Czech
unit, consumer finance firm Cetelem, is considering converting
to a bank, which would give it access to cheaper financing.
                                
  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
                                
[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 Jana Mlcochova)