Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 28

... 
     
    PPI DATA 
    The Statistics Office will publish producer prices data for 
February, 9 a.m. (0700 GMT). Analysts forecast producer price 
inflation of 0.2 percent month-on-month, and 2.2 percent 
year-on-year. 
     
    GOVERNMENT MEETING 
    The government will hold its regular wekly meeting. 
     
    PARLIAMENT SESSION 
    The Slovak parliament will continue its regular monthly 
session. 
     
    CBANK CUTS KEY RATES AFTER CROWN RISE 
    Slovakia's central bank (NBS) cut its main interest rate by 
25 basis points on Tuesday, responding to a rising crown, fast 
economic growth and slowing inflation as the country approaches 
euro adoption in 2009. 
    [ID:nL27209077] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK] 
     
    C.BANKER: SKK FIRMING AFTER CUT UNJUSTIFIED 
    The firming of the Slovak crown following Tuesday's interest 
rate cut is not justified, central bank (NBS) chief Ivan Sramko 
said. 
    [ID:nPRA001217] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK] 
     
    CROWN GAINS GROUND VS EURO, IGNORES RATE CUT 
    The Slovak crown gained 0.8 percent against the euro on 
Tuesday, after the central bank cut the main interest rate less 
than some investors had expected, and dealers saw room for more 
firming in the short run. 
    [ID:nL27330151] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    CBANK CHIEF EXPLAINS RATE MEETING ABSENCE 
    Slovakia's central bank governor on Tuesday explained his 
absence from a meeting which delivered the first interest rate 
cut in two years by saying setting the bank's monetary policy 
was a continuous process. 
    [ID:nL27604940] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK] 
     
    CBANK CHIEF SEES MEETING EURO ENTRY FX TEST 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) still believes it will meet 
the exchange rate criterion for entering the euro zone, Governor 
Ivan Sramko said on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nPRA001214] [RTRS-CEN-EUR-PLCY-SK] 
     
    CBANK ACCEPTS SOME BIDS IN 2-WK REPO TENDER 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) accepted bids worth 185 
billion crowns ($7.31 billion) out of total demand of 342.426 
billion in its two-week repo tender on Tuesday, extending 
efforts to curb the crown's strength. 
    [ID:nL27197860] [RTRS-CEN-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    END-JAN CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS SKK 7.7 BLN 
    Slovakia's current account showed a preliminary surplus of 
7.7 billion crowns ($304.1 million) at the end of January, 
compared with a gap of 9.14 billion a year ago, the central bank 
(NBS) said on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nPRG000284] [RTRS-MMT-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    END-2006 FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $32.2 BLN 
    Slovakia's gross foreign debt rose to $32.206 billion at the 
end of December from $31.521 billion at 
the end of November, the central bank (NBS) said on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL27625433] [RTRS-CEN-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    VW SLOVAKIA SEES DECISION ON NEW MODELS BY END-2007 
    Volkswagen  should decide on whether to expand the 
model list at its Slovak plant at the end of 2007, later than an 
originally expected in the first quarter, a senior official said 
on Tuesday. 
    [ID:nL27240556] [RTRS-AUT-RES-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    ECONMIN PRAISES REFORMS 
    Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek has praised reforms 
introduced by the previous centre-right cabinet of Prime 
Minister Mikulas Dzurinda. Leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico 
had promised to reverse many of the reforms before he won June 
2006 elections. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    LABOUR CODE NEGOTIATIONS 
    Employers' associations demand Prime Minister Robert Fico to 
join negotiations on amendments to the labour code. Employers 
have quarrelled with Fico's Labour and Social Affairs Minister 
Viera Tomanova over the proposed changes. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    COALITION DEBATE ON LABOUR CODE 
    The three ruling coalition parties have said the amended 
labour code will be in line with government programme, but they 
have not yet agreed on the final version of the draft. 
    Sme, page 2 
     
    SLOVAKS SAYS U.S. COULD DROP VISA BY 2009 
    The United States could ease travel restriction for Slovaks 
by 2009, said Slovakia's Ambassador to Unites States Rastislav 
Kacer. 
    Pravda, page 2 
     
    KOSOVO STATUS 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico has stopped his coalition 
partner, the Slovak National Party (SNS), from cooperating with 
opposition on a parliamentary resolution on Kosovo status. 
Opposition has criticised a proposed government resolution, 
saying it opened the way for Kosovo independence. 
    Pravda, page 2 
     
    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 
     
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