Slovakia - Factors To Watch on April 26

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FICO VISITS GERMANY

Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet Chancellor Angela Merkel during a one-day visit to Germany.

CBANK SAYS WANTS RATES NEAR EURO ZONE LEVELS

The Slovak central bank would prefer to have interest rates near euro zone levels as soon as possible, the bank Governor Ivan Sramko was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

[ID:nL25528279] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK]

PM SAYS MULLS FASTER DEFICIT CUTS

The Slovak government is analysing whether it can curb the public finance deficit faster than currently planned over the next two years, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL2559490] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-PLCY-SK]

CROWN REBOUNDS ON ZLOTY, LACKS TREND

The Slovak crown firmed against the euro on stronger Polish zloty on Wednesday, but dealers said the unit would remain volatile and without a clear direction in the near future.

[ID:nL25182182] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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PM ATTACKS MEDIA

Prime Minister Robert Fico lashed out at the country's media, saying they lacked objectivity and mislead the public about government policy.

Sme, page 1

RADIOCOMMUNICATION SALE

Slovak Telekom, controlled by Deutsche Telekom, will sell its Radiocommunication unit for 3.5 billion crowns ($141.9 million) according to Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny said. Vazny and Slovak Telecom have declined to disclose the name of the buyer.

Sme, page 6

VIRTUAL MOBILE SERVICES OPERATOR

Slovakia's private equity group Penta said it was interested in buying GTS Central Europe, a group of alternative telecommunication operators, and lunch mobile phone services for Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Sme, page 6

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

Slovakia aims to build 127 km of highways, worth 114 billion crowns, in the next four years, the transport ministry said.

Pravda, page 1

BANNER-BATTERIEN TO INVEST $81 MLN IN SLOVAKIA

Austria's car-batteries maker BannerBatterien will invest 2 billion crowns ($81.07 million) in Slovakia in the next five years to build a new factory. Initial investment is seen at 33 million euro for an annual capacity of 3 million units.

Pravda, page 1

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS

The economy ministry will provide grants worth 100 million crowns for solar and biomass energy projects for households, starting in 2008.

Pravda, page 20

SANEF EYES SLOVAK TOLL TENDER

French motorway operator Sanef said it was interested in Slovakia's tender aimed for the provider of an electronic road toll system.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 13

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=24.67 Slovak Crown) ($1=24.67 Slovak Crown)