Hungary, Factors to watch, Dec 16
BUDAPEST, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Following is a list of events in Hungary and the region, as well as news stories and press reports which may influence financial markets.
(For any queries: Budapest editorial +36 1 327 4745)
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HUNGARY (ALL TIMES GMT)
BUDAPEST - 3-month T-bill auction (0930)
BUDAPEST - Central bank rate decision (1300) and statement (1400)
BUDAPEST - Anti-government demonstration (1800)
IN THE REGION
CZECH - Bonds and T-bills calendar for 01/15
SERBIA - Chinese PM attends summit with CEE nations (0700)
CZECH - Producer prices 11/14 (0900)
POLAND - Wages, inflation data (1400)
SLOVAKIA - Current account 10/14 (1430)
IN THE NEWS REUTERS
HOLCIM, LAFARGE SECURE EU APPROVAL FOR CEMENT MERGER
European Union antitrust regulators on Monday approved the proposed merger of France's Lafarge and Swiss peer Holcim to create the world's biggest cement maker after they promised to sell a swathe of overlapping assets.
HUNGARY APPROVES 2015 BUDGET WITH 2.4 PCT/GDP DEFICIT GOAL
Hungarian lawmakers approved the government's 2015 budget in a final vote on Monday, targeting a deficit of 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, below European Union norms.
MERKEL URGES BULGARIA TO SEEK NEW TALKS WITH PUTIN ON SOUTH STREAM
German Chancellor Angela Merkel backed Bulgaria on Monday in its bid to seek new talks with Russia about the South Stream gas pipeline after Moscow shelved the project this month in favour of an alternative link via Turkey.
CASH-STRAPPED BALKANS SEEKS CHINESE FUNDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
China is preparing a fresh investment push into central and eastern Europe, promising more than $10 billion in loans for energy and infrastructure projects to be discussed in Belgrade this week.
UAE'S DANA GAS SAYS KURDISTAN FAILED TO PAY $100 MLN
Dana Gas, one of the largest investors in Iraq's Kurdistan, said on Monday the semi-autonomous region had failed to pay $100 million as instructed by a London arbitration court, prompting Dana to ask the court to enforce the order.
HUNGARY MAY CUT BANK TAX IN 2016 OR 2017 -PM ORBAN
Hungary may cut its windfall tax on banks in 2016 or 2017 if the government can strike a good deal with the banking sector, Prime Minister Viktor Orban was quoted by Bloomberg as saying in an interview published on Sunday. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs)
