Prague became the best meeting destination of New Europe region again, shows the annual ranking compiled by Slovenian Kongres Magazine. Meetings Star Awards ranking, celebrating 10th anniversary in 2018, evaluates the European meeting destinations regarding their meeting infrastructure, marketing activities and a set of other factors. The award ceremony announcing the winners took place on January 22, 2019 at the Conventa trade show in Ljubljana.

We expect the CNB to stay on hold on Thursday as the uncertain outlook for the global economy outweighs the weaker-than-expected CZK and high core CPI factors. We see scope for two CNB hikes this year, but with an improvement in the global economic outlook now a necessary condition. Neither CZK spot nor CZK IRS rates currently offer attractive opportunities.

The volume of new housing loans declined to the lowest level in two-and-a-half years, driven by stricter recommendations from the Czech National Bank and strong frontloading in the second half of last year.

The Czech Republic has improved its standing in watchdog Transparency International’s Annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2018. The country has moved four places up the ladder to 38th spot in the worldwide rankings, Radio Praha writes.