Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on July 17

                                
 PRAGUE, July 17 (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 - 52-week T-bill auction.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
                                
 PRAGUE - Czech central bank governing board to hold a
regular weekly meeting. It is not scheduled to discuss monetary
policy issues.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]

====================== TOP NEWS ================================
                                
CZECH CROWN SEEN WEAKENING: The Czech crown is expected to
drop from record highs within three months, a Reuters poll
showed on Wednesday, highlighting market expectations that the
currency's rally will eventually run out of steam.   
                                
 Story: [ID:nL1613905] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                
 
                                
CZECH MAY SALES SHOW INFLATION HITS CONSUMERS: Czech retail
sales grew less than expected in May, which analysts said showed
a surge in inflation had put the brakes on consumption and
joined in with sagging exports to hit growth and limit the scope
for rate tightening.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL16497072] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

========================OTHER NEWS============================ 
                                
ING CUTS ORCO: ING cut its price target for Orco Property
Group <ORCO.PA> <ORCOsp.PR> to 29 euros from 129 euros, and
maintained a 'hold' rating for the developer.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RCH]
                                
 
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,398.6  1,400.3   -0.12        -22.95
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  23.130   23.161   +0.13        +14.57
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  14.569   14.638   +0.41        +24.64
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  11,239   10,963   +2.52        -15.27
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
 ====================== PRESS DIGEST ===========================
                                
 RUSSIAN CRUDE CUT: The amount of crude coming from Russia to
the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline fell to 10
percent of the agreed level.
                                
 Mlada Fronta Dnes, page 1 
                                
 
                                
 LUKOIL EXPANDS: Russia's oil group Lukoil <LKOH.MM> plans to
gain a 10 percent market share in the number of filling stations
in the Czech Republic.
                                
 E15, page 8
                                
 
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)