The outgoing finance minister, Pavel Mertlík, said yesterday that he considers the completion of energy-sector privatization before the end of 2001 as unrealistic, stating he expects the process to be completed in the first half of 2002 instead. Although some government officials would like energy-sector-privatization revenues before the end of 2001, this scenario has been perceived as too ambitious by the market; the timing suggested by Mr. Mertlik is therefore rather neutral news for the stock.
(Ondřej Daťka)