Interfax: Czech Republic & Slovakia news report of 19.12.2008

Weekly news:

FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC NEWS

MONETARY POLICY

Slovak central bank leaves benchmark rate unchanged at 2.50%, as expected

Czech central bank cuts benchmark rate by 50 bps to 2.25%, as expected

COMPANY NEWS

TRANSPORTATION

Czech truck maker Tatra to lay off another 569 staff in Q1 due to global financial crisis

State carrier Czech Airlines boosting flights to Russia over Christmas holiday

Deloitte/CMS Cameron McKenna to advise Czech gov’t on sale of state carrier Czech Airlines

FOOD, BEVERAGE & AGRICULTURE

EU court sides with Czech brewer Budvar on rival Anheuser-Busch’s bid for ’Bud’ brand in Europe

MEDIA

Prague-listed broadcaster CME chief executive Garin stepping down, COO Sarbu named president

REAL ESTATE

Prague-listed developer ECM Real Estate to issue 2.36 mln new shares in private placement

Developer ECM may de-list from Prague following successful voluntary share buyout – analysts

ENERGY NEWS

OIL & PETROCHEMICALS

Czech retail fuel prices drop; top-selling Natural 95 down to CZK 23.87/liter

Czech oil processer Cepro CEO resigns to head Russian operations for oil/gas group MND

GAS

Czech oil/gas group MND signs gas storage agreement with Russia’s Gazprom Export

PRESS: Nabucco gas pipeline remains a ’European fantasy’ - Czech energy envoy

COAL

Czech utility CEZ, equity group J&T submit joint bid for German coal miner Mibrag

Lignite miner Czech Coal Group completes restructuring, renames MUS mining unit

HEAT, POWER & SEWAGE

Slovakia chooses Czech utility CEZ as strategic partner in EUR 4-6 bln nuclear plant expansion

Prague Energy Exchange to include Hungary-sourced electricity futures as of March 2009

Czech utility CEZ could save EUR 2.86 bln over 2013-2020 due to EC’s relaxed emissions targets

FINANCIAL MARKETS

EQUITIES

Prague bourse PX index drops 1.78% Friday in mixed trading, broadcaster CME week’s biggest gainer

Bratislava Stock Exchange (BSE), Indices, 12-19/12/2008

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE), SPAD trading, 12-19/12/2008

FIXED INCOME

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) Treasury bonds, Direct trading, 12-19/12/2008

CURRENCY

Czech National Bank (CNB) foreign exchange rates, 12-19/12/2008

National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) foreign exchange rates, 12-19/12/2008

MONEY MARKET

National Bank of Slovakia, BRIBOR rate fixing, 12-19/12/2008

Czech National Bank, PRIBOR and PRIBID rate fixing, 12-19/12/2008

CALENDAR

Czech Republic – calendar of upcoming events, 22-29/12/2008

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

Agency Interfax