Slovakia - Factors To Watch on April 12

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INFLATION DATA

The Statistics Office will publish March headline and core inflation data (0700 GMT). Analysts forecast consumer prices to have risen by 0.2 percent on the month in March, for an annual inflation rate of 2.8 percent.

Core inflation was forecast at 0.2 percent, month-on-month, and 2.7 percent, year-on-year.

DEFENCE MINISTERS MEETING

Defence ministers from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland will discuss NATO transformation, EU battle groups and peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

CONTINENTAL AG BUYS 51 PCT OF MATADOR RUBBER

Continental AG will acquire a 51 percent stake in leading Slovakian tyre maker Matador Rubber for a price that an industry source familiar with the deal said was in the low hundreds of millions of euros.

[ID:nL11728342] [RTRS-AUT-RUB-EMRG-SK]

SLOVAKIA POSTS SURPRISE FEB TRADE GAP,REBOUND SEEN

Slovakia's foreign trade balance swung to a deficit in February as car production growth slowed down, data showed on Wednesday, but analysts expect a rebound in the coming months.

[ID:nL11661448] [RTRS-TRD-ECI-SK]

[ID:nPRG000304] [RTRS-TRD-ECI-SK]

CROWN STEADY VS EURO, TRADE DATA DISAPPOINTS

The Slovak crown moved in a thin range against the euro on Wednesday, and dealers said disappointing foreign trade data may limit appetite to push the unit stronger in the short run.

[ID:nL11434878] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

EURO-ZONE MEMBERSHIP WORTHWHILE DESPITE PAIN-IMF

New members of the European Union must suck up the pain of joining the euro common currency club because it will be good for their economies in the long run, the IMF said on Wednesday.

[ID:nN11443252] [RTRS-EU-EUR-GVD-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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SECURITY CLASH

Several ministers and the attorney general has opposed a proposal by Interior Minister Robert Kalinak seeking easier access to phone call databases without a permission by the court.

Sme, page 1

ETHNIC-HUNGARIAN MP LEAVES PARLIAMENT

An ethnic Hungarian deputy, Laszlo Gyurovszky, has given up his parliament mandate in reaction to election of Pal Csaky as the Chairman of their ethnic Hungarian SMK party.

Sme, page 2

GOVT BACKS ECONOMY MINISTER

The government backs Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, who will face a no-confidence vote in parliament on Friday.

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: peter.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)