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In this week’s business news: the unexpected resignation of ČEZ CEO Martin Roman, the opening of the first gas pipeline between the Czech Republic and Poland, the Czech Finance Ministry to launch a pilot issue of retail bonds and Czechs increasingly sceptical with regard to the future of the Eurozone.

In this week’s business news: Czech GDP growth slows in the second quarter of 2011, the Prime Minister admits that raising the lower VAT rate to 19 percent in 2012 is a possibility, Student Agency’s RegioJet launches its ticket sales for the Prague-Ostrava route, Škoda Auto saw a sales growth of 18.3 percent in the first eight months of 2011 year-on-year, and the Czech Republic slips two notches in the WEF Global Competitiveness Report.

The Czech Parliament is voting on a change in value added tax on Friday, the Czech central bank has launched an investigation into energy supplier ČEZ in connection with a leak of its earnings report, the carrier CŠA will start operating regular direct flights to Tel Aviv, as part of an EU directive 60-watt light bulbs were taken off the market in the Czech Republic on Thursday, and the Michelin-starred Four Seasons Hotel in Prague will have a new chef starting October.

In this week’s business news: the government moves to shift the burden from direct to indirect taxation, Standard & Poor’s raises Czech sovereign ratings, Trade and Industry Ministry statistics reveal a drop in FDI and the Czech Mint reports a surge of interest in investment gold.

Reuters says Czech ministries want free emissions vouchers for power producers; economy grew by 2.4% in the last quarter; the court approves the sale of Sazka by tender; woeful 2Q results for ČEZ; and the central bank says the country will have met the conditions for adopting the euro next year.

In today’s business news: A debate on tax reform has been postponed due to a dispute over flat expense deductions between the prime minister and the finance minister, the bankrupt betting giant Sazka is to be sold in a public tender, grocery chains launch online discount coupons, the Czech Tourism agency announces a campaign targeting gay and lesbian travelers, and an American journal finds that Czech banknotes have some of the world’s highest levels of a potentially dangerous chemical.

In Business News: Prague bourse sees trading drop in face of worries over new economic downturn; Czech Railways weighs the controversial purchase of 16 new trains at the cost of five billion crowns; leading commercial vehicle manufacturer DAF acquires a 19-percent stake in Tatra trucks; sources report that at least two firms have applied to launch exploratory operations in search of new shale gas reserves.

In Business News this week: foreign investment in the Czech Republic rises to pre-crisis levels; the country’s grey economy amounts to 565 billion crowns; the Transport Ministry plans to raise road toll by 25 pct next year; decrease of new cars’ prices in the Czech Republic are among fastest in Europe; debts of Czech household keep rising and are more difficult to collect; and the famed Czech distiller Rudolf Jelínek is moving its headquarters to Holland.

Finance Ministry raises growth outlook for this year and the next; ECM Real Estate declared bankrupt; Central European banking has stabilised; Forbes magazine is coming to the Czech Republic; Zuno Bank opens its virtual doors to Czech customers.

In today’s business news: The European Commission launches an antitrust investigation into the Czech energy giant ČEZ, self-employed individuals may be among those who profit from an overhaul of the Czech pension system, a new law eliminates advertising on two public TV channels, Czech tennis star Petra Kvitová’s marketing potential receives a significant boost due to her Wimbledon victory, the regional brewery Svijany posts record profits in 2010 and Czechs pay up to 20 percent more for mobile phone services than clients in neighboring