Poland - Factors to Watch January 9

WARSAW, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The following are significant news stories, press reports and events on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

FARMERS' PROTEST

On Friday, farmers will protest in the Polish capital against the Mercosur agreement, which will be voted on during the European Union Council meeting.

The agreement is intended to introduce trade preferences for selected agricultural products from Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In return, Mercosur is expected to open up to the EU industry.

PRESIDENT MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER

Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday. According to previous announcements, the meeting will focus, among other things, on Poland's security issues.

Discussions around regional security, also in the context of the ongoing negotiations regarding Russian aggression in Ukraine, will be the number one topic, Marcin Przydacz, head of the President's International Policy Offic told private television Polsat News.

INTEREST RATES

There is still room for further monetary policy easing in 2026, a member of the management board of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), Artur Sobon, who does not make decisions about interest rates, told private television TVN24.

BANKS

Despite the significant corporate income tax increase for banks, the Polish financial sector is attracting interest from large foreign capital groups. Among them are investors who withdrew from Poland years ago, Puls Biznesu daily reported.

DEBT

On Friday at 1030, the Polish Ministry of Finance will hold an auction for bonds worth 8.0-12.0 billion zlotys ($2.21 billion-$3.32 billion).

Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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($1 = 3.6147 zlotys)