Interfax: Czech Republic & Slovakia news report of 27.03.2009

Weekly news:

FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC NEWS

MONETARY POLICY

Czech central bank keeps interest rates on hold at 1.75%, as expected

Czech National Bank (CNB) official interest rates –26/03/2009

Czech National Bank (CNB) official interest rates –25/03/2009

Czech National Bank (CNB) official interest rates –24/03/2009

Czech National Bank (CNB) official interest rates –23/03/2009

STATISTICS

Czech retail sales down 3.3% y/y in January, car sales flag

Czech construction output down 11.1% y/y in January – statistical office

Czech industrial output down 23.3% y/y in January on transport, steel sectors

COMPANY NEWS

MANUFACTURING

Czech carmaker TPCA sales down 4% last year at CZK 49 bln, pre-tax profit stagnates

TRANSPORTATION

Czech Ministry receives four bids for state carrier CSA, including from Russia’s Aeroflot

Air France-KLM confirm joint bid for Czech Airlines with aim of firming CEE position

RETAIL & CONSUMER GOODS

Plasma TV maker Hitachi closing Czech unit this month, 800 jobs lost

FOOD, BEVERAGE & AGRICULTURE

EU Court upholds ruling against Anheuser-Busch vs. Czech Budvar over ’Budweiser’ trademark

REAL ESTATE

Prague trade in CEE developer Orco suspended, company seeks court protection from creditors

Decline trend in European office rents continues, CE tenants keen to renegotiate terms – C&W

ENERGY NEWS

OIL & PETROCHEMICALS

Czech retail fuel prices drop; top-selling Natural 95 at CZK 25.41/liter

COAL

UPDATE: Czech coal miner NWR abandons EUR 135 mln Ukrainian iron ore Ferrexpo deal

Czech coal miner NWR not to buy 24.99% stake in Ukrainian iron ore group Ferrexpo

HEAT, POWER & SEWAGE

Czech industrial armature group Moravia Systems wins supply contract to utility CEZ subsidiary

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS

BANKING

Czech National Bank, PRIBOR and PRIBID rate fixing, 20-27/03/2009

Czech National Bank (CNB) official interest rates –27/03/2009

Czech National Bank, PRIBOR and PRIBID rate fixing, 26/03/2009

Czech National Bank, PRIBOR and PRIBID rate fixing, 25/03/2009

Czech National Bank, PRIBOR and PRIBID rate fixing, 24/03/2009

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Czech-controlled CEE consumer lender Home Credit net up 30.1% last year at EUR 41.7 mln

RUSSIA & CIS NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Russian GDP shrinks 7.3% in Feb – Econ Ministry

Russia postpones intergovt consultations with Ukraine – Medvedev

Federal service permits meat imports from Belarus, Poland, France, Latvia

Kyiv proposes boosting local gas system’s capacity as alternative to Nord Stream, South Stream

No U.S. response to Moscow missile defense cooperation initiative – Russian PM’s spokesperson

FINANCIAL MARKETS

EQUITIES

Prague bourse PX index up 7.9% w/w Friday, AAA Auto soars 70%

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE), SPAD trading, 20-27/03/2009

FIXED INCOME

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) Treasury bonds, Direct trading, 20-27/03/2009

CURRENCY

Czech National Bank (CNB) foreign exchange rates, 20-27/03/2009

CALENDAR

Czech Republic – calendar of upcoming events 30/03-06/04/2009

Nb: This news report features only the headline of each news.

Agency Interfax