THE CZECH CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCED THURSDAY A 25-BASIS-POINT INCREASE IN BORROWING COSTS AS INTEREST RATES IN THE KEY NEW EUROPEAN UNION STATES PUSH HIGHER, DPA REPORTED. THE CZECH NATIONAL BANK'S DECISION TO INCREASE OFFICIAL RATES TO 2.25 PER CENT FOLLOWS A HEFTY 50-BASIS-POINT RISE IN BOTH HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA EARLIER THIS WEEK. AS EXPECTED, POLAND KEPT ITS BENCHMARK RATE ON HOLD AT 4 PER CENT WEDNESDAY ON THE BACK OF A BELOW-1-PER-CENT INFLATION RATE.
