Slovakia - Factors To Watch on April 23

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PM ON EURO ADOPION

Prime Minister Fico will deliver a speech on Slovakia's euro adoption process to Bratislava university students (0615 GMT)

FICO TO MEET CROATIAN PM

Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.

EURO COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

Government representative for euro, Igor Barat, will hold a news conference on communication strategy for euro adoption. (1200 GMT)

SLOVAKS TO LAUNCH ROAD TOLL TENDER BY AUGUST

Slovakia will launch a tender to pick the provider of an electronic road toll system by August this year, the National Highway Company (NDS) said on Friday.

[ID:nL20162589] [RTRS-RRL-ELC-SK]

C.BANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $17.73 BLN

The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves edged up to $17.730 billion as of April 18 from $17.578 billion a week ago, the bank said on Friday.

[ID:nL20699252] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK]

CROWN REBOUNDS, EYES REGION FOR TREND

The Slovak crown pared some of this week's losses on Friday, but dealers said it would remain exposed to capital shifts on emerging markets until a central bank rate meeting on Tuesday.

[ID:nL20708231] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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FUEL PRICE TALKS

Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would seek talks with oil refiner Slovnaft , a unit of Hungary's oil group MOL , over fuel prices.

Sme, page 1

CARGO INVESTMENT

The state-run rail freight company ZSSK Cargo plans to invest 10.5 billion crowns ($427.4 million) in modernisation projects and purchase of new wagons by 2012.

Pravda, page 6

CAR PRODUCTION SLOWDONW

Car production is expected to slow down during summer months as Volkswagen will halt its production lines for the first two weeks of August, while PSA Peugeot Citroen is expected to halt lines for three weeks.

Pravda, page 1

RUSSIA TO KEEP TRANSPETROL

The 49 percent stake in Slovak oil pipeline operator Transpetrol will probably remain owned by a Russian oil company, a Transpetrol's board member, Julius Rezes, said.

Hospodarske Noviny, 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:

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($1=24.57 Slovak Crown)