Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 22

                                
  PRAGUE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial
markets on Friday.
                                
 ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hour)

=========================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 CEE currencies.............................[CEE/]
                                
 
=========================TOP NEWS=============================
                                
 LEFTIST ECON PLANS: The main Czech leftist party which leads
opinion polls ahead of election in May plans to hike taxes to
plug budget holes while no welfare cuts are needed, it said in a
economic programme revealed on Thursday.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE60K24E] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 CEE PROPERTY INVESTMENT JUMPS: Property investment turnover
in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) surged more than 300 percent
in the second half of 2009 from the first half, as pricing began
to stabilise and confidence in local economies recovered, a
report showed.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLEE6CL002] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-REA]
                                
 
                                
 KIT DIGITAL SHARE LISTING: Video technology provider KIT
digital <KITD.O> has placed 2.98 million new shares with U.S.
investors at $10.50 each as part of stock offerings in New York
and Prague, it said in a filing.
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE60K1HP] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-ISU]

                                
 CEE MARKETS: The Hungarian forint hit this year's lowest
level against the euro on Thursday, with investors running for
safer assets as worries about Greece's ability to finance its
vast budget deficit loom over emerging Europe. 
                                
 Story: [ID:nLDE60K0ML] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
 ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
 Index/Crown Currency  Latest    Prev    Pct change   Pct change
                                
                              close   on day       in 2010
 Czech Equities <.PX>   1216,2   1216,2    -0,34       8,85
vs Euro   <EURCZK=>    26,148    26,109    -0,15       0,65
vs Dollar    <CZK=>    18,515    18,539     0,13      -0,75
 U.S. Equities <.DJI>  10389,88  10603,15  -2,01      -0,37
 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600

=========================PRESS DIGEST===========================
                                
 CAR SALES: Sales of passenger cars in the Czech Republic
fell by about a fifth in 2009 from 2008 to 786,000, a car
importers association research showed. New car sales fell by 11
percent while used car sales dropped by 20 percent. Used car
imports fell 37 percent.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page15
                                
 
                                
 CABINET VS EMPLOYERS AND TRADE UNIONS: Representatives of
employers and trade unions rejected on Thursday the interim
government's plan aimed to boost the economy hit by an economic
downturn. Talks will continue next week.
                                
 Pravo, page 3
                                
  
                                
 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 +420 224 190 474;
fax: +420 224 229 935
                                
 (Compiled by Jana Mlcochova)
                                
 E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com