Slovakia - Factors To Watch on April 5

...     
    OECD SECRETARY GEN MEETS PM FICO 
    OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria will meet Slovak PM Fico 
(0700 GMT), news conference around 9.30 a.m. (0730 GMT). Gurria 
will then present a new economic survey on Slovakia at a foreign 
ministry conference (0800 GMT). 
     
    FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES 
    The central bank will publish weekly foreign currency 
reserves data, 2 p.m. (1200 GMT). 
     
    C.BANK INTERVENES TO CURB CROWN 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) extended its fight to curb the 
crown's strength with a second market intervention in as many 
weeks on Wednesday, and warned it would continue to correct 
unwanted currency swings. 
    [ID:nL04306239] [RTRS-CEN-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    C.BANK CHIEF SAYS CROWN STILL OVERVALUED 
    The Slovak crown's strength remains excessive and the 
central bank will continue to fight its undesirable 
appreciation, central bank (NBS) Governor Ivan Sramko said on 
Wednesday. 
    [ID:nL04690761] [RTRS-MMT-GVD-CEN-SK] 
     
    OECD URGES SLOVAKS TO KEEP TIGHT BUDGET IN EURO 
    The OECD urged Slovakia on Wednesday to keep fiscal policy 
prudent after its planned switch to the euro in 2009 to avoid an 
economic "boom and bust". 
    [ID:nL0494800] [RTRS-EUR-PLCY-SK] 
     
    MARCH INFLATION SEEN UP FROM RECORD LOWS 
    Slovakia's March inflation is expected to have edged up from 
February's record low and the strength of the crown currency has 
boosted chances of a central bank interest rate cut this month, 
a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday. 
    [ID:nL04575042] [RTRS-PRE-ECI-PLCY-INT-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
     
    SLOVAKS BACK U.N. KOSOVO RESOLUTION 
    The United Nations Security Council started a closed-door 
meeting on the status of the southern Serbian province Kosovo, 
with the Slovak envoy expressing support of the Ahtisaari's plan 
of Kosovo independence, contrary to comments by Prime Minister 
Robert Fico. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    PENSION SYSTEM CHANGES 
    The government adjourned debate on the labour ministry's 
analysis of the changes to the pension system, after the HZDS 
party, a junior ruling coalition member, opposed major changes 
to the system and with Fico saying more details were needed for 
debate. 
    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  
 Other related news: 
 Slovak equities      [SK-E]  E.Europe equities           [.CEE] 
 Slovak money         [SK-M]  Czech debt                  [CZ-D] 
 Slovak Indicators  [SK-ECI]  Emerging forex          [EMRG/FRX] 
 Eastern European     [EEU]   All emerging markets        [EMRG] 
 Hot stocks           [HOT]   Stock markets                [STX] 
 Market debt news     [DBT]   Forex news                   [FRX] 
 TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets                         [TOP/EMRG] 
 TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch                        [TOP/EAST] 
 
  
 ($1=24.88 Slovak Crown)