Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 26

                                
 PRAGUE, Aug 26 (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 ===============================
                                
 CEE CURRENCIES STEADY AFTER HUNGARINA CBANK MEETS: Emerging
European currencies held steady against the euro Monday
afternoon, with the Hungarian forint paring back losses after
the central bank left interest rates unchanged and signalled no
immediate move soon.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLP351325] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
                                

                                
 NWR OPERATING PROFIT SEEN TRIPLING: Czech mining group New
World Resources (NWR) <NWRS.L> <NWRSsp.PR> is expected to show a
more than threefold increase in second-quarter operating profit
due to buoyant coal prices, a Reuters survey showed on Monday.
Seven analysts gave an average estimate for operating profit of
166.6 million euros ($247.7 million), up from 47.6 million in a
year earlier.     
                                
 Story: [ID:nLP177867] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-MIN]

 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2008
 Czech Equities  <.PX> 1,452.6  1,455.4   -0.19        -19.97
 vs Euro     <EURCZK=>  24.420   24.416   -0.02         +8.52
 vs Dollar      <CZK=>  16.628   16.494   -0.84         +9.23
 U.S. Equities  <.DJI>  11,386   11,628   -2.08        -14.16
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
====================== PRESS DIGEST===========================
                                
 CEZ CHALLENGES BULGARIAN REGULATOR DECISION: Czech power
group CEZ <CEZpsp.PR>, a major power distributor in Bulgaria,
has challenged a Bulgarian energy regulator decision to raise
retail power prices by 14 percent as such a hike is not high
enough to cover costs.
                                
 Hospodarske Novniny, page 14
                                
 
                                
 CME MAY LAUNCH NATION-WIDE SPORTS CHANNEL: Central European
Media Enterprises' (CME) <CETVsp.PR> <CETV.O> biggest earner,
Czech TV station Nova, may launch a nation-wide sport channel
Nova Sport.
                                
 E15, page 6
                                
 
                                
 SKODA TO MAINTAIN ONLY REGULAR PRODUCTION: Volkswagen's
<VOWG.DE> Czech unit Skoda Auto decided to cancel all of its
extra shifts until the end of the year as it is able to meet
demand with its regular shifts.
                                
 Mlada fronta Dnes, page 9
                                
 
                                
 STRIKE THREATS: Tens of thousands of workers might go on
strike in September or October due to declining real wages.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 KOMERCNI LENDING POLICY UNCHANGED: Komercni Banka
<BKOMsp.PR> will not tighten its conditions for providing
mortgages as the are already set very cautiously, Deputy CEO
Vladimir Jerabek said.
                                
 Pravo, page 16

                                
 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: Jana Mlcochova on +420 224 190 479;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
 (Compiled by Jana Mlcochova)