Zeman calls for 0.25 percent interest rate cuts

Prime Minister Milos Zeman said on Wednesday he would be willing to help the Czech National Bank halt a sharp appreciation of the crown - but only if the bank cuts key interest rates by a quarter of a percent in January. Such a cut would help exporters who have been hit hard by the strength of crown. The central bank cut its key two-week repo rate to an all-time low of 4.75 percent at the end of November.