Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 7

    BRATISLAVA, March 7 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press 
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial 
markets on Wednesday. 
     
    JAN RETAIL SALES DATA 
    The Statistics Office will publish January retail sales 
data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). Analysts forecast annual growth of 6.6 
percent. 
     
    JAN INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT 
    The Statistics Office will publish January producer prices 
data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). Analysts forecast annual growth of 10.5 
percent. 
     
    JAN CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT 
    The Statistics Office will publish January construction 
output data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). 
     
    JAN INDUSTRIAL WAGES 
    The Statistics Office will publish January real industrial 
wages data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). 
     
    REGULAR GOVT MEETING 
    The government will hold its regular weekly meeting, 10 a.m. 
(0900 GMT). 
     
    ECONOMY REMAINS HOT IN Q4, 2006 SEES RECORD 
    Slovakia's economy remained red hot in the fourth quarter, 
pushing gross domestic product to record expansion in 2006 as 
investments in the auto industry helped boost export capacities, 
data showed on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL0665158] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-EMRG-SK] 
     
    Q4 GDP tops earlier flash estimate 
    The Slovak economy grew by a real 9.6 percent, year-on-year, 
in the fourth quarter, the Slovak Statistics Office said on 
Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL06802056] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-EMRG-SK] 
     
    STATS OFFICE SEES NO DANGER OF OVERHEATING 
    The Slovak economy does not face a risk of overheating 
despite fast gross domestic product growth, a senior official at 
the Slovak Statistics Office said on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL06388536] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-EMRG-SK] 
     
    Q4 REAL AVERAGE WAGE +3.9 PCT Y/Y 
    The real average wage in Slovakia rose by 
3.9 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2006, 
accelerating from 2.7 percent growth in the third quarter, the 
Slovak Statistics Office said on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL06351898] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-EMRG-SK] 
     
    CHANCES TO HIT EURO TARGET RISE-SURVEY 
    Slovakia's chances of adopting the euro in 2009 as planned 
rose in February due to robust economic growth and improved 
inflation outlook, a survey by independent INEKO think-tank 
showed on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL06506738] [RTRS-EUR-FRX-SK] 
     
    CROWN HITS 2-WK HIGHS ON REGION, STRONG GDP 
    The Slovak crown  firmed to a two-week high versus 
the euro on Tuesday, fuelled by a brighter regional mood and the 
country's robust economic growth, dealers said. 
    [ID:nL06480931] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    CBANK ACCEPTS ALL BIDS IN 2-WK REPO TENDER 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) accepted all bids at its 
regular two-week repo tender on Tuesday, draining 121.901 
billion crowns ($4.65 billion) from the market, NBS data showed. 
    [ID:nL06388571] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK] 
     
    SLOVAK AIRLINES FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY DUE TO DEBTS 
    Slovak Airlines said on Tuesday it had filed for bankruptcy 
after its majority owner Austrian Airlines  stopped its 
financial support following a row with the Slovak government 
over the carrier's debts. 
    [ID:nL06511688] [RTRS-AIR-BKRT-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    TRADE UNION LAW 
    President Ivan Gasparovic has signed the law giving more 
powers to trade unions. Employers and analysts criticised the 
law, saying it could hurt Slovakia's labour competitiveness. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    SOCCER CORRUPTION 
    Slovak police arrested a top soccer association Official and 
accused him of taking a bribe worth 10,000 Slovak crowns ($382) 
for a player's transfer. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    For news on upcoming events in the United States and other 
Group of Seven countries, see . For a diary of 
forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a 
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY]. 
     
    News editor of the day: Peter Laca, on +421 2 5341 8402; 
fax: +421 2 5341 8403 
    E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk 
    Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net 
     
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets: 
 Warsaw WIG20   Budapest BUX   Prague PX50  
 Other related news: 
 Slovak equities      [SK-E]  E.Europe equities           [.CEE] 
 Slovak money         [SK-M]  Czech debt                  [CZ-D] 
 Slovak Indicators  [SK-ECI]  Emerging forex          [EMRG/FRX] 
 Eastern European     [EEU]   All emerging markets        [EMRG] 
 Hot stocks           [HOT]   Stock markets                [STX] 
 Market debt news     [DBT]   Forex news                   [FRX] 
 TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets                         [TOP/EMRG] 
 TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch                        [TOP/EAST] 
 
 ((Compiled by Martin Santa; Bratislava Newsroom; Email: 
editorial@reuters.sk; +421-2-5341-8402)) 
 ($1=26.18 Slovak Crown)