Daily summary of the Czech economy: CEZ, Comp&Ben Association, ForteBank, Home Credit and Plzeňský Prazdroj (30 June 2025)

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Overview of the latest economic events in the Czech Republic

The Prague Stock Exchange closed today in green numbers. The PX index strengthened by 0.25 % to 2135.36 points. Investors continue to monitor the development of the CNB interest rates, which remained at 3.5 % after Wednesday's meeting. The recovery was mainly seen in shares of energy giant CEZ, but the biggest growth was shown by Photon Energy, whose shares jumped by more than 8 % thanks to the announcement of new contracts for the construction of solar power plants in Hungary and Romania.

The real estate market has crossed a symbolic threshold - prices of flats at all Prague metro stations exceeded CZK 100,000 per square metre in the second half of last year. The greatest interest was in the area around Kolbenova station. At the same time, prices continued to rise in the vicinity of future D metro stations. This data is confirmed by the real estate analytical platform Flat Zone, according to which demand remains stable despite the fall in interest rates.

On the labour market, wage growth in the Czech Republic had slowed, but remained above inflation. The average and median increase in base wages this year is 4.5 %, according to the Comp&Ben Association report. This growth rate signals a gradual return to a more sustainable pace of remuneration.

Foreign investment

PPF Group today announced the sale of its Home Credit banking arm in Kazakhstan to ForteBank, a local financial services house. The transaction is pending approval from the local regulator and the amount has not been disclosed. The move follows PPF's earlier exit from China, where it sold Home Credit to a consortium around JD.com for €298 million. Overall, the move is a strategic withdrawal from more distant markets and a focus on key regions.

Last year, the brewery Plzeňský Prazdroj recorded a 6.7 % increase in sales to CZK 23 billion, mainly thanks to its strong export performance - exports increased by 10 % to almost 2 million hectolitres. The company's profit fell slightly by 0.8 %, despite investments in the Czech Republic of CZK 1.65 billion. Prazdroj thus confirms its stable position not only on the domestic market, but also abroad, especially in Poland and Slovakia.

The banking sector responds to monetary policy developments. Most banks in the country now offer interest rates of around 3 % on savings accounts, with only one bank holding a rate of 4 %. According to the analysis of the Portu platform, this is a consequence of the stabilization of the CNB base rate, which has been around 3.5 % since the spring.

Significant events outside the Czech Republic with global impact

There is tension in the global markets in connection with the upcoming US inflation data and the Fed decision. Investors are speculating on a possible further rate hike. European bourses are reacting cautiously with the DAX and FTSE 100 posting slight losses. Japan's Nikkei 225, on the other hand, is rising thanks to a weaker yen, which supports export-oriented companies.

In Germany, a major acquisition took place: the technology group Siemens bought a minority stake in its subsidiary Siemens Mobility from the French group Alstom, strengthening its influence in the rail infrastructure segment. The €1.1 billion deal comes at a time when the European transport sector is expecting strong investment in environmental modernisation.

US electric car maker Tesla has announced a partnership with South Korean firm SK On to supply batteries for European markets. The aim is to ensure self-sufficiency in production at the gigafactory near Berlin. The move is seen as a response to the European Union's new trade policy, which encourages domestic production of key components.

Current exchange rates according to the CNB and Google Rates

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