Over one-third of Czechs use mortgage loans to buy real estate, CTK newswire reported citing a poll by Median agency. Almost 29% of the respondents said they use the mortgage loan to reconstruct a home and nearly a fifth said they use the loan to build a house. Czech banks provided 5,857 mortgage loans in May 2011, the highest number since June 2008, the Fincentrum Hypoindex indicator showed. The average interest rate fell to 4.24% from 4.28% in April. The market might deteriorate in the months to come as the governments austerity measures are to hurt incomes and the central bank is expected to raise interest rates. |
Social Democrats (CDDS), the major Czech opposition party, proposed next year's general and European elections to be held on the same day, CTK news agency reported. CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka ... more
The Czech unit of UK retailer Tesco faces a fine of up to CZK 3mn (EUR 116,000) for selling beef lasagne containing undeclared horsemeat, Radio Prague reported. The state-run Agricultural and Food ... more
The upper house of the Czech parliament, the Senate, voted on March 20 a constitutional amendment to limit the immunity of lawmakers and constitutional judges, Radio Prague reported. Out of the ... more