Poland - Factors to Watch Feb 23
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
The statistics office is due to publish registered unemployment data for January at 0900 GMT.
C.BANK MINUTES
The central bank is due to publish at 1300 GMT minutes from the February meeting of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Council.
RULE OF LAW
The European Commission wants to check whether member states are ready to punish Poland for breaking the rule of law, Rzeczpospolita daily said quoting unnamed sources.
DISCOUNT STORES
Discount stores are expected to increase sales by 7 percent this year, while the whole retail market growth is seen at 1 percent, Rzeczpospolita said quoting Euromonitor estimates.
ECONOMY
The European Commission said in its report that Poland lacks political and legal stability which are necessary for investments' growth, Rzeczpospolita said.
PZU, PEKAO
State-run insurer PZU CEO told Rzeczpospolita, that the company wants to maintain its policy of high dividend payouts. He also said that if the banks controlled by PZU would like to take part in the sector's consolidation they can take such decisions.
PZU CEO also said that he sees no reason to talk about changes in Bank Pekao SA management board at the moment as it has worked well.
TAX
Poland wants to introduce a system of splitting the payment of value added tax and is consulting the plan with the European Commission, Puls Biznesu daily said quoting Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
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