INSTANT VIEW 3-Slovak Jan ind output beats mkt fcast

    BRATISLAVA, March 7 (Reuters) - Slovak industrial output 
rose by a real 17.5 percent year-on-year in January, 
accelerating from a revised 9.0 percent increase in December, 
Slovak Statistics Office said on Wednesday. 
  
KEY POINTS: 
INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT      JAN 07     JAN 07 FCAST 
pct change yr/yr       +17.5          +10.5 
  
(For full table click pls ..... [ID:nPRG000257]) 
 
- Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected industrial 
output to have risen by 10.5 percent on an annual basis in 
January  . 
- Manufacturing production, which has the strongest weighting in 
the index, rises 24.6 percent on the year in January, up from a 
12.6 percent increase in the previous month. 
- Mining remains in negative territory, falling by 3.1 percent, 
after a 9.7 percent decline in December. 
- Production and distribution of electricity, gas and water 
falls by 15.2 percent, compared with a 7.2 percent decline in 
December. 
- Within manufacturing output, car production surges by 126.1 
percent from a year ago, after a 74.3 percent jump in 
December. 
- The automotive industry is the main pillar of Slovakia's 
economy. 
     
COMMENTARY: 
    MARIA VALACHYOVA, SENIOR ANALYST, SLOVENSKA SPORITELNA 
    "The biggest surprise was in car manufacturing, which was 
behind the industrial output rise. It is a positive figure, 
which can translate into stronger exports. If this trend is 
confirmed in the coming months, it would positively influence 
overall GDP growth." 
     
    LUCIA STEKLACOVA, SENIOR ANALYST, ING BANK, BRATISLAVA 
    "It is a very good figure. Both the car and electronics 
industries exceeded our expectations. I think we may see an 
upside surprise in January export data next week." 
     
MARKET REACTION: 
    The Slovak crown  was stronger on Wednesday 
morning, trading at 34.300 to the euro, from 34.335 late on 
Tuesday. Traders said the move was related to flows on bigger 
neighbouring markets in central Europe. 
     
LINKS: 
- For further details on January industrial output and other 
past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak 
Statistics Office's website: 
    http://wwww.statistics.sk/webdata/english/index2_a.htm 
     
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 ((For past economic data and analysts' forecasts, double click 
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 (Reporting by Martin Santa in Bratislava) 
  ((Editing by Alan Crosby; bratislava.newsroom@reuters.com; 
Reuters Messaging: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; +421 2 
5341 8402)) 
  Keywords: SLOVAKIA ECONOMY/OUTPUT