Monday, 21 April 2014
Business | ČTK
Areva withdraws court appeal after cancellation of Temelín tender

French nuclear company Areva is taking back a court appeal against its elimination from the tender for the expansion of the nuclear power plant Temelín following its cancellation a week ago.
Business | Radio Prague
Czech e-commerce giant says Google 'concessions' would worsen conditions on local market

One of the biggest players on the local e-commerce market warns that European Commission moves to curb Google's dominance in Europe could backfire and worsen the situation on the Czech market.
Business | ČTK
Ministry considers measures to raise competitiveness of big companies

The Czech Industry and Trade Ministry is considering measures aimed at putting large industrial companies at an advantage when it comes to renewable energy payments so as to raise their competitiveness, Eduard Muricky of the ministry said Thursday.
Finance | ČTK
Analysts: Third VAT rate to influence inflation negligibly

The possible introduction of a third value added tax (VAT) rate of 10 percent, on which the ruling coalition parties agreed on Wednesday, will lead to a drop in inflation by 0.1 percentage point, according to analysts polled by CTK.
Business | ČTK
Czech televisions see 20% growth in advertising in Q1

Czech televisions registered a 19.7 percent growth in advertising spending to Kc6.355bn in the first quarter of this year, while advertising spending in press dropped by 6 percent to Kc3.447bn in pricelist value, according to data of the Admosphere monitoring.
Finance | ČTK
Coalition agrees to cut VAT on medicines, books, nappies

The three governing parties Wednesday agreed on cutting the VAT on medicines, books, baby nappies and baby food from 15% to 10% as of the beginning of 2015.
Business | ČTK
Interest rate on mortgage loans falls to record low

The average interest rate on mortgage loans dropped to 2.93 percent in March, the lowest level in the time of the indicator's monitoring, according to Fincentrum Hypoindex data.
Business | ČTK
Czech trader Virtuse entering London commodity exchange

Virtuse, the biggest Czech trader in emission allowances, is entering London commodity exchange ICE, becoming the second Czech company after CEZ that will offer its services there, server IHNED.cz said Wednesday.
Finance | Radio Prague
Ministry report outlines future reduced VAT rates but details still to be settled

Czech consumers can look forward to having more change in their pockets after shopping trips if reported plans for the phase in of three levels of Value Added Tax come true.
Business | Radio Prague
Constitutional Court issues precedent ruling on bank fees

Czech banking institutions, most of whom still observe the unpopular practice of charging fees for managing loan and mortgage accounts, can breathe a sigh of relief. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled that the practice of charging such fees is not illegal.
Business | Radio Prague
New "spending squad" should oversee all large public investment projects

The centre-left government is setting up a watchdog body which should assess the necessity for major investments and make sure that the money is spent according to plan.
Business | ČTK
HN: Owner of Czech websites to complain to EC about Google

The Allegro group, controlling several Czech electronic commerce platforms through parent concern Naspers, is planning to file a complaint to the European Commission over activities of US search engine Google, Hospodářské noviny wrote Tuesday.
Business | ČTK
Zeman: Four investors could take part in new Temelín tender

A new investor from South Korea and the three investors from the cancelled tender could take part in a possible new tender to extend nuclear power plant Temelin, Czech President Milos Zeman said Tuesday.
Business | ČTK
Agrofert buying Hungarian sunflower oil producer NT Group

Czech agricultural and food-processing group Agrofert, owned by Finance Minister Andrej Babis, is buying Hungarian sunflower oil producer NT Group, Agrofert spokesman Karel Hanzelka told CTK Tuesday.
Business | Reuters
PKN Orlen in talks to buy Eni stake in Czech refiner

Polish oil firm PKN Orlen is in talks to buy Italian firm Eni's stake in the Czech Republic's sole refiner, the Czech industry minister said, a step that could lead to more investment and help secure its future. The sale of Eni's 32.4% would give local PKN unit Unipetrol full ownership of Česká rafinérská after it also bought a 16% stake from Shell earlier this year for USD 27 million. "(Eni) is negotiating with PKN Orlen on the conditions for it to exit Česká rafinérská," the minister told Reuters.