Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 22

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)