Czech banks have doled out nearly five times as many mortgages in the past five years as they did in the 1990s. Banks have issued 245,000 mortgages worth 420 billion Kč ($19.9 billion) since launching the programs in the mid-1990s, according to Regional Development Ministry statistics. The average mortgage given in 2006 is 1.5 million Kč.

PROFITS

Banks' net earnings fell to 30 billion Kč from January through September, down from nearly 32 billion Kč over the same period last year, the Czech National Bank reported Nov. 30. Banks lent 1.35 trillion Kč, during that time, up nearly 200 billion Kč year on year. There are currently 37 different banks operating in the country, up from 36 in 2005.

INFLATION

Analysts say they are expecting the lowest inflation in three years. Consumer prices grew 1.5 percent in November, on top of 1.9 percent in October, according to analysts polled by the Czech News Agency Dec. 6. The prices of many staple products are falling. Gas prices, for example, fell 41 hellers in November to 27.99 Kč on average.

PATRIA

Patria Finance remained the leading brokerage firm on the Prague Stock Exchange (BCPP), trading shares worth 35.2 billion Kč in November, the BCPP announced Dec. 1. The company is followed by Wood & Company and Česká spořitelna, with 30.3 billion Kč and 28.2 billion Kč, respectively. Komerční banka saw the biggest drop in sales, slipping from fourth to eighth place.

EXCHANGE