Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 13

...     
    FEBRUARY INFLATION 
    The Statistics Office will publish headline and core 
inflation data for February (0800 GMT). Analysts predicted 
consumer prices to have risen by 0.3 percent on the month in 
February for an annual inflation rate of 2.7 percent. 
    Core inflation was forecast to have risen by 0.3 percent 
month-on-month, and 2.5 percent year-on-year. 
     
    C.BANK TO HOLD REGULAR 2-WK REPO TENDER 
    The central bank will hold regular two-week repo tender. 
     
    FINMIN NEWS CONFERENCE 
    The finance ministry will hold a news conference on the 
outcome of the IMF mission in Slovakia (0930 GMT). 
     
    SAMSUNG INVESTMENT 
    President of Samsung Electronics' LCD business Lee Sang-wan 
will sign a contract with the Slovak government on the new 
flat-screen plant. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek and Prime 
Minister Robert Fico to participate (1330 GMT). 
     
    CROWN DRIFTS IN RANGE, AWAITS REPO OUTCOME 
    The Slovak crown drifted in a tight range against the euro 
on Monday as the market paused ahead of the central bank's 
liquidity-draining auction later this week, dealers said. 
    [ID:nL12472703] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    LABOUR CODE DRAFT NEGOTIATIONS 
    The labour ministry called on unions and employer 
associations to discuss the new labour code draft and reach an 
agreement the ministry will respect. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    SPP SUES SLOVAKIA 
    Slovakia's gas monopoly SPP sued the economy ministry after 
the state allowed building of alternative gas distribution 
networks. SPP said the decision violated the country's energy 
policy and harmed consumers. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    SLOVENSKE ELEKTRARNE TO CUT 1,000 JOBS 
    Slovenske Elektrarne (SE), the country's dominant power firm 
owned by Italy's utility Enel , said would lay off 
1,000 employees by the year-end. 
    Pravda, 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: Martin Dokoupil, 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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