Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Feb 27

                                
 PRAGUE, Feb 27 (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 + 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 Czech currency.............................[CZK/]
                                
 
======================= EVENTS =================================
                                
 PM TOPOLANEK MEETS BUSH: Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is
due to meet U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington to
discuss visas and the U.S. missile defence shield.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-US]
                                
 
                                
 GOVERNMENT BOND AUCTION: The Finance Ministry will offer a 6
billion crown tranche of three-year bonds. Bids are due by 1100
GMT.
                                
 Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DBT]
                                
 
                                
 AIRLINE RESULTS: The state-owned Czech Airlines, scheduled
for privatisation, hold a news conference on 2007 results (1300
GMT).
                                
 
========================= TOP NEWS =============================
                                
 C.BANKER PREFERS RATE STABILITY: Czech central bank board
member Pavel Rezabek stuck to his preference of keeping rates
unchanged in the near future on Tuesday but warned that a
tightening may be needed if demand pressures rise.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL26908665] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEN]
================= ELSEWHERE IN NEWS ==========================
                                
 EARNINGS POLL: Oil group Unipetrol <UNPEsp.PR> is expected
to post a net loss of 319 million crowns for the fourth quarter
of 2007 due to prolonged shutdowns and lower margins, a Reuters
survey showed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL26903904] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RES]
                                
 
                                
 EARNINGS POLL: Television group Central European Media
Enterprises (CME) is expected to post a 125 percent jump in
fourth-quarter net profit on higher sales at the key Czech and
Romanian markets and an upturn in Ukraine, a Reuters survey
showed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nL26708787] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RES]

----------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,578.2  1,566.2   +0.77        -13.05
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  25.080   25.115   +0.14         +5.66
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  16.661   16.856   +1.13         +9.02
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  12,685   12,570   +0.91         -4.37
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
                                
 
===================== PRESS DIGEST ============================
                                
 AIRPORT LAND DEAL: Investment group Penta has reached a
preliminary agreement with the state on the sale of land the
state-owned Prague Airport needs to build a new runway. The
airport is slated for privatisation and the possibility to build
the runway is an important factor for its value.
                                
 Pravo, page 19.
                                
 
                                
 PETROL STATIONS SALE: Unipetrol <UNPEsp.PR> unit Benzina
wants to buy petrol station chain Robin Oil with its 70 outlets.
The chain's owner reportedly demands 3 billion crowns. It may
also be interested in another chain, Pap Oil, with 140 outlets.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 15.
                                
 
                                
 (Reuters has not verified any of the newspaper reports that
may be quoted above and does not 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