Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 21

... 
     
    GOVERNMENT MEETING 
    The government will hold a regular weekly meeting, 10 a.m. 
(0900 GMT). 
     
    CENTRAL BANK FIGHTS TO HALT CROWN RALLY 
    Thehe Slovak central bank (NBS) fought on the foreign 
exchange and money markets on Tuesday to weaken the crown after 
the revaluation of its euro peg in the ERM-2 currency grid 
pushed it to record highs. 
    The crown began falling early on Tuesday on rumours that the 
central bank was selling crowns through London banks, and NBS 
Governor Ivan Sramko later confirmed direct sales of crowns on 
the foreign exchange market. 
    [ID:nL2032940] [RTRS-FRX-MCE-CEN-SK] 
     
    SLOVAK FEB JOBLESS RATE NEARS RECORD LOWS 
    Slovakia's unemployment rate dipped to 9.2 percent in 
February to near record lows as warm weather boosted seasonal 
works, the Labour Office said on Tuesday. 
    The jobless rate had fallen steadily to a record low of 9.12 
percent in November from around 20 percent four years ago after 
the former centre-right government cracked down on abuses of the 
welfare system. 
    [ID:nL20104892] [RTRS-SK-JOB] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    ARMS INDUSTRY REVIVAL 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico is trying to revive Slovakia's 
arms industry, which has been in doldrums since the fall of 
communism in 1989. The government is looking to get contracts 
for Slovak arms businesses abroad. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR EURO 
    Slovakia's businesses have begun preparations for adoption 
of the euro, eventhough there are still two years lefts before 
the planned euro zone entry. 
    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: Peter Laca, on +421 2 5341 8402; 
fax: +421 2 5341 8403 
    E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk 
    Reuters Messaging: pater.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net 
     
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets: 
 Warsaw WIG20   Budapest BUX   Prague PX50  
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