INSTANT VIEW 2-Slovak Feb factory output up less than expected

...percent in January, the Slovak Statistics 
Office said on Tuesday. 
  
KEY POINTS: 
 INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT      FEB 07     FEB 07 FCAST 
 pct change yr/yr       +15.5          +18.0 
  
(For full table please click on ..... [ID:nPRG000301]) 
 
- Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected industrial 
output to have risen by 18.0 percent on an annual basis in 
February  . 
- Manufacturing production, which has the strongest weighting in 
the index, rose 20.5 percent on the year in February, after a 
24.7 percent increase in the previous month. 
- Mining fell by 8.5 percent, after a 3.3 percent decline in 
January. 
- Production and distribution of electricity, gas and water 
fell by 9.6 percent, compared with a 15.2 percent decline in 
January. 
- Within manufacturing output, car production rose by 103 
percent from a year ago, after a 127 percent jump in 
January. 
- The automotive industry is the main pillar of Slovakia's 
economy. 
     
ANALYST COMMENTS: 
    LUCIA STEKLACOVA, SENIOR ANALYST, ING BANK, BRATISLAVA 
    "Car production, which is the main driver of growth, was 
slightly lower, but I don't see any negative implications. 
    "We still expect a gradual acceleration of the car sector, 
and the electronics industry and metal production will grow at a 
fast pace as well. 
    "Overall, the outlook is favourable, with output expected to 
maintain double digit growth this year." 
     
MARKET REACTION: 
    The crown firmed slightly to 33.360 per euro  after 
the data release, from 33.400 early in the session. 
     
LINKS: 
- For further details on February industrial output and other 
past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak 
Statistics Office's website: 
    http://wwww.statistics.sk/webdata/english/index2_a.htm 
     
- For LIVE Slovak economic data releases, click on...... 
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 (Reporting by Martin Santa in Bratislava) 
   
  Keywords: SLOVAKIA ECONOMY/OUTPUT