Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on July 23

PRAGUE, July 23 (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 + 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 - The Czech cabinet to hold a regular session. News
conference to follow.

Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]

====================== TOP NEWS ================================

PPF TO WITHDRAW ZENTIVA BID: Czech financial group PPF gave
up the race to take over generic drugs maker Zentiva
ZNTVsp.PR, clearing the field for shareholders to weigh the
merits of a competing bid from Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA) of
France.

Story: [ID:nL22888636] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRU]

ZENTIVA SEES HIGHER H1 SALES: Czech generic drugs maker
Zentiva ZNTVsp.PR expects first-half 2008 sales to have risen
32 percent year-on-year to 8.9 billion crowns, lifted by its
Turkish unit, the company said.

Story: [ID: nPRG000914] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-DRU]

CROWN PULLS BACK FROM RECORDS: The Czech crown dropped
against the euro EURCZK= after comments by central bank chief
Zdenek Tuma that the currency's strength may lead to lower
interest rates next month.

Story: [ID:nL22100117] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]

CZECH AIRLINES RAISES PASSENGER NUMBERS: State-owned Czech
Airlines (CSA), slated for sale next year, flew 2.6 million
passengers in the first half of 2008, a 5.7 percent jump from a
year ago.

Story: [ID:nL22998193] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-AIR]

---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change

close on day in 2008
Czech Equities .PX 1,436.4 1,451.2 -1.02 -20.86
vs Euro EURCZK= 23.485 23.420 -0.28 +12.84
vs Dollar CZK= 14.868 14.798 -0.53 +22.13
U.S. Equities .DJI 11,603 11,467 +1.18 -12.53
Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500

====================== PRESS DIGEST ===========================

OMZ SELLING PILSEN STEEL: Russian engineering group OMZ
(OMZZ.MM) is considering selling its Czech steel unit Pilsen
Steel for at least $250 million, with nine groups bidding in the
tender.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 13

PEGAS SEES NO IMPACT ON FY GUIDANCE: Artificial textile
maker Pegas Nonwovens (PGSNsp.PR) sees nothing that would change
its full-year guidance of more than 5 percent growth in earnings
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA),
its chief executive Milos Bogdan said in an interview.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 14

PRIMA RAISES REVENUES, CROWN HITS PROFIT: Modern Times
Group's (MTGb.ST) (MTG) Czech television station Prima, a
competitor of Central European Media Enterprises' (CETV.O) TV
Nova, raised revenues 25 percent to 508 million Swedish crowns
($85.42 million) but operating profit dropped 28 percent to 63
million due to the strengthening Czech crown.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 15

NEXT GOVT TO SELL STATE BREWERY BUDVAR: The current
government will not have time to privatise state brewery
Budejovicky Budvar before its term ends in 2010, Prime Minister
Mirek Topolanek said.

Hospodarske Noviny, 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: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 477;
fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com
(Compiled by Jason Hovet)