Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka transferred the last bulk of "black" (unprofitable) assets inherited from the balance sheet of Investicni and postovni banka to Ceska konsolidacni agentura. CSOB has already transferred "black" assets worth CZK 46bn.
The European Commision warned Germany again. The Commission criticized an increasing state budget deficit and recommended improving a cooperation among the central government and local budgetary authorities in Germany. Due to deficits the Commission criticized France, Italy and Portugal.
Ceska posta, a postal services operator in the Czech Republic, proposed to the Finance Ministry a hike in the price for delivering a normal letter from CZK 5.40 to CZK 6.40 and other price changes of its services. Prices of postal services are subject of administrative regulation, so Ceska posta will have to wait on a decision of Finance Ministry.
Poland's unemployment rate rose to a record 18% in January, as seasonal factors and a slack economic growth depressed a demand for working force. The jobless rate rose for an eighth consecutive month. 138,000 workers lost their jobs in January and the number of unemployed increased to 3.253 million.
The Czech Statistical Office releases today foreign trade figures for January. Our forecast for trade deficit is CZK 8.5bn.
Click here for the „Czech economic daily“ in .pdf format.