Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 7

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COALITION MEETING

The three ruling coalition leaders will meet to debate funding of the health-care system and a tax cut proposal (0700 GMT).

REPO TENDER

The central bank will hold its regular two-week repo tender. The bank traditionally holds the repo auctions on Tuesday, but Slovak financial markets will be closed on May 8 for a national holiday.

PM TIGHTENS GRIP ON ECONOMY, MAY HURT GROWTH

The Slovak government's push for more workers' rights is the latest in a series of changes to business conditions that threaten the country's position as a favoured investment spot and may hurt economic growth.

[ID:nL0428819] [RTRS-POL-JOB-MCE-SK]

CROWN RISES ON ZLOTY, MKT EYES U.S. DATA

The Slovak crown rose versus the euro on Friday thanks to a Polish zloty jump to all-time highs, and dealers waited for a fresh impetus from global markets later in the session.

[ID:nL04330531] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

C.BANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $17.76 BLN

The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves edged up to $17.760 billion as of May 2 from $17.739 billion a week ago, the bank said on Friday.

[ID:nL04459564] [RTRS-CEN-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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NO TAX CHANGES

Finance Minister Jan Pociatek has dismissed ideas of lower taxes, proposed by a junior ruling coalition member, the Slovak National Party. Pociatek also said there was no room for lower excise tax on fuels either.

Pravda

HEALTH-CARE LOBBY

Health-care Minister Ivan Velentovic, a nominee of Prime Minister Robert Fico's party Smer, is under the influence of lobbyists and that is blocking faster solution of problems in the health care system, a Slovak National Party MP, Rafael Rafaj, said.

Sme

FICO MISLEADS ON DIVIDEND TAXATION

Prime Minister Robert Fico is misleading the public by saying that that Slovakia is loosing billion of crowns on absent dividend tax, because the European Union's directive bans double taxation within the EU area.

Sme

MISSILE SHIELD

Defense Minister Frantisek Kasicky has joined Prime Minister Robert Fico in saying that Slovakia would reject a request to host a radar or missile station of a foreign country.

Sme

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

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[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]