Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 9

...   
    SDKU ON LABOUR CODE 
    The largest opposition party SDKU will hold a news 
conference on prepared changes to Slovakia's labour code, 10.30 
a.m. (0930 GMT). 
     
    FX RESERVES DATA 
    The central bank will publish weekly foreign currency 
reserves data, 2 p.m. (1300 GMT). 
     
    CROWN HITS NEW RECORD, C.BANK INTERVENES 
    The Slovak central bank intervened on the market on Thursday 
to halt firming of the crown after news of foreign direct 
investment inflows and accelerating economic growth drove the 
unit to new record highs. 
    [ID:nL08455761] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-EUR-SK] 
     
    SAMSUNG CONFIRMS SLOVAKIA SITE FOR NEW LCD PLANT 
    Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. , the world's 
biggest maker of large liquid crystal displays, said on Thursday 
it picked Slovakia as the site for a new LCD panel assembly 
plant. 
    [ID:nSEO348231] [RTRS-ELC-ELI-ENT-SK] 
     
    BISHOPS DEFEND ARCHBISHOP ON SPY REPORTS 
    Slovakia's Catholic bishops on Thursday rejected allegations 
in a newspaper that Archbishop Jan Sokol had collaborated with 
the country's communist-era secret police force.  
    [ID:nL08569606] [RTRS-REL-EUROPE-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------- 
    GABCIKOVO DEAL 
    Sklovakia's Attorney General said the contract under which 
Slovenske Elektrarne, owned by Italy's Enel , rents the 
country's largest hydro power plant Gabcikovo is invalid. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    COALITION QUARRELS 
    Problems have piled up inside the ruling coalition as its 
three leaders have not held a formal meeting for two months. The 
three ruling coalition parties have clashed over several issues 
in recent weeks, including operations of their ministries, 
changes to labour code or foreign policy. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    LABOUR SHORTAGE 
    South Korea's Samsung Electronics , which has 
just announced a plan to build its new LCD panel plant near the 
western Slovak town of Trnava, may face labour shortage problems 
as it will operate in a region with low unemployment rate. 
Analysts also expected upward pressures on wages in the region. 
    Sme, page 3 
     
    UNION PROTESTS 
    Steel industry trade unions plan to organise protest rallies 
against employers' opposition to the prepared labour code 
changes. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    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 
     
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