PRAGUE, Aug 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 + 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 lower house of parliament to continue an
extraordinary session. Agenda includes welfare reform bills.
Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
====================== TOP NEWS ===============================
DEUTSCHE BANK UPGRADES CEZ: Deutsche Bank has raised its
recommendation for Czech power group CEZ (CEZPsp.PR) to 'Buy'
from 'Hold', saying rising power prices should lead to a strong
increase in earnings.
Story: [ID:nWAR007235] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-RCH]
VIG PRETAX PROFIT JUMPS: Vienna Insurance Group (VIGR.VI)
posted a 43 percent rise in second-quarter pretax profit,
topping analysts' expectations, as premium income grew in
emerging Europe and investment income was helped by one-offs.
Story: [ID:nLL628112] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-INS]
CEE CURRENCIES CLOSE MIXED: Emerging European currencies
closed mixed against the euro on Thursday, with the Czech crown
ending higher after shaking off a central banker's comments
suggesting interest rates might be cut again.
Story: [ID:nLM585007] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-FRX]
RATE CUT NOT EXCLUDED: The Czech central bank (CNB) may cut
interest rate by another quarter of a percentage point by the
end of this year, depending on crown moves and inflation
pressures, CNB board member Robert Holman said on Thursday.
Story: [ID:nLK279385] Related news: [RTRS-LEN-CZ-POL]
---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------
Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change
close on day in 2008
Czech Equities .PX 1,440.3 1,440.0 +0.02 -20.65
vs Euro EURCZK= 24.330 24.320 -0.04 +8.92
vs Dollar CZK= 16.325 16.329 +0.12 +11.41
U.S. Equities .DJI 11,430 11,417 +0.11 -13.83
Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500
====================== PRESS DIGEST===========================
AAA AUTO SALES UP: Car sales in used car dealership AAA Auto
Group (AAAAsp.PR) grew 10 percent year on year in July and
August, the company's CEO Anthony Denny said. The loss-making
company has slashed the number of employees by a third as part
of cost cutting measures.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 17
GENERALI PPF GETS LICENCE FOR BELORUSSIA: Generali PPF
Holding, a joint venture of Italy's Generali (GASI.MI) and Czech
financial group PPF got licence to provide insurance services in
Belorussia.
E15, page 6
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)
