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In Business News this week: days before the introduction of a new electronic truck tolling system on Czech motorways, many haulage companies are unprepared; Czechs sent a record number of SMS and MMS messages on Christmas Eve; an estimated 100,000 Czechs are going on sun holidays this winter; as rent deregulation fast approaches, not all residents know how much more they are going to have to pay; and electricity prices are going up while gas prices are falling - at least for now.

CSA's financial plans revealed. Losses at the Checkout. Ceske Drahy agrees to wage hike. UPC-Karneval merger approved. State debt grows. Czechs Leaders in SMS Giving.

Coming up in this week's business news, the lower house approves the budget but the Finance Minister votes with his feet; Czech exporters issue a cry for help as the crown continues to soar; parliament postpones the introduction of a new law on sick pay; the Transport Ministry reaches agreement with Austrian company Kapsch over the new motorway toll system; Czech building societies report a substantial rise in loans and Nigeria considers buying around a dozen L-159 subsonic fighters from the Czech Republic.

In Business News this week: Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty comes up with a controversial plan to circumvent a rise in VAT on construction work; the first issue of government bonds maturing in 30 years is heavily over-subscribed; another company considers suing the Czech state over the tender to introduce a lorry toll system - just weeks before it is due to begin; trade with Poland is thriving, and should rise further with Schengen enlargement; and an unusual order could help preserve the lace-making tradition of one south Bohemian town.

In Business News: Czech oil giant Unipetrol is fined by the European Commission; the Czech Republic says no to a proposed EU tax hike on beer; the Czech crown soars against the dollar, euro; Skype announces plans to come to Prague; and more.

In Business News: Radiokomunikace fetches the highest price ever recorded in the purchase of a private company in this country; the strategically important state company Skodaexport is to be put up for sale; Skoda Auto produces its 500,000th car this year; the transport minister casts doubt on the ability of Kapsch to launch on time an electronic toll system for trucks; environmentalists strike an "historic" deal with Hyundai; and how much do you think the average Czech is planning to spend this Christmas?

In Business News: road haulage is the "riskiest" sector due to increased competition after EU accession; the Delvita supermarket chain is bought out by German company; two Czech firms launch legal music downloads; a Brno company wins a large contract in Iraq; sugar beet growers plan to stage protests over closures; and tourism accounts for over 3 percent of Czech GDP.

Coming up in this week's business news, Czechs help block an EU proposal to raise tax on beer, Budvar wins a trademark battle in Portugal, Delvita supermarkets announce they're shutting up shop, the Czech crown sets a new record against the euro, minority shareholders call for halt in Unipetrol privatisation, Czech perceptions of corruption decline and the World Bank says setting up a Czech company takes 24 days - over a week longer than the OECD average.

In Business News this week: the government prepares to intervene as the national air carrier CSA continues to lose money; the car maker Skoda announces a record jump in profits - and a healthy rise in sales; the financial police's biggest ever operation ends with 100 arrested for cigarette counterfeiting; CD and DVD prices are cut as manufacturers struggle to compete with home copying; and could a new road tolls system lead to inflation?

Aero Vodochody sold to Penta. Czech airline CSA reports passenger increase. Czech government implements anti-corruption program. Czech lawmakers approve main lines of the 2007 state budget. Brno seeks to puts itself on map as biotech centre.