Czech Daily Economic Summary: Auto Production, Anta Sports Products and Puma, CVC Capital Partners, Brex, Allied Gold, Two-Speed EU and India (Jan 28, 2026)

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Overview of the latest economic events in the Czech Republic

The Czech economy entered the end of January on the back of a strong capital market and stable performance of key industries. The Prague Stock Exchange strengthened for the second consecutive day on Tuesday and closed at a new all-time high. The PX index rose 1.54 per cent to 2,783.17 points, with banking sector shares the main driver. Significant gains were recorded in particular by titles Moneta Money Bank, Commercial Bank a Erste Group Bank, while overall trading activity was above average. Investors reacted positively to the combination of good performance of financial institutions and a stable macroeconomic outlook for the Czech market.

Attention also continues to focus on the automotive industry, which remains a key pillar of the Czech economy. Passenger car production in the Czech Republic fell slightly by 0.5 percent last year to 1,445,776 vehicles, which is still the second highest result in history. A significant trend is the sharp increase in the production of electric cars, whose production increased by 89 per cent year-on-year to 285,176 vehicles. More than 92.5 percent of production went to foreign markets, while domestic sales reached 107,990 vehicles. The data confirm the continued export orientation of the Czech automotive industry and the growing importance of electrification.

Foreign investment

Global investment activity is accelerating at the turn of January, confirming the return of large-scale acquisitions across sectors ranging from consumer goods to finance to technology. In the European market, a deal in which a Chinese group Anta Sports Products acquired 29.06 percent of the German sportswear manufacturer Puma for approximately $1.8 billion. This made Anta the largest shareholder in Puma and strengthened its position among the global leaders in the sports segment, with the market reacting with a rise in the shares of both companies.

In the financial sector, the investment group announced CVC Capital Partners acquisition of a US asset manager Marathon Asset Management for approximately $1.2 billion, with the possibility of additional performance payments. The move strengthens CVC's position in debt asset management and underscores the growing interest of private equity funds in alternative investments.

The company has taken a similar path Janus Henderson, which has agreed to take over the New York firm Richard Bernstein Advisors, managing approximately $20 billion in assets, expanding its presence in the North American market.

The announced acquisition of a fintech company is also a significant event in the banking industry Brex by a U.S. bank Capital One Financial Corporation in a transaction valued at $5.15 billion. This is one of the largest transactions linking the traditional banking sector with the fintech segment, and has the potential to change the competitive landscape in corporate payments and lending.

Chinese mining group's cash offer has attracted attention in the global commodities market Zijin Mining to take over a Canadian company Allied Gold worth approximately $5.5 billion. The transaction is subject to security review by Canadian authorities and confirms the continued interest of Chinese capital in strategic raw material resources outside the domestic market.

Significant events outside the Czech Republic with global impact

The European economic discourse these days is strongly influenced by the initiative of Germany, which promotes the concept of a two-speed European Union. According to a proposal by the finance minister Lars Klingbeil A bloc of the six strongest EU economies should be created to speed up decision-making and boost economic growth by working more closely together on capital markets, defence investment and the provision of strategic raw materials.

The conclusion of the long-gestating trade agreement between European Union and India, announced by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement creates one of the largest free trade areas in the world, covering some two billion people, and is expected to significantly boost mutual trade, investment and geopolitical ties between the two regions.

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