Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 10

...

MARCH RETAIL SALES

The Statistics Office will publish March retail sales data, 0700 GMT. Analysts forecast an annual rise by 5.1 percent.

MARCH INDUSTRIAL WAGES

The Statistics Office will publish average industrial wage data for March.

EURO LAW

The government's representative for euro, Igor Barat, will hold a news conference on preparation of legislation for euro adoption, 0800 GMT.

QUESTION HOUR

Ministers will answer questions from MPs during a regular question hour in parliament, 1200 GMT.

PM SAYS U.S. MISSILE SHIELD "GRAVE MISTAKE"

The United States made a "grave mistake" when it chose not to discuss properly its plan to deploy a missile shied in central Europe, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was quoted on Wednesday as saying.

[ID:nL0958769] [RTRS-POL-DIP-DEF-EUROPE-SK]

SLOVAKIA OKAYS FISCAL CUTS, SAYS NO SCOPE FOR MORE

The Slovak government on Wednesday approved a plan to reduce the public deficit in 2008 to prepare the country for planned euro adoption in 2009, and the finance minister said the scope for cuts had been exhausted.

[ID:nL09601831] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-MCE-SK]

MARCH INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT GROWTH EASES, OUTLOOK SOUND

Slovakia's industrial output boom slowed in March as the expansion in car production eased compared with last year, data showed on Wednesday, but analysts expect further rapid growth for the rest of the year.

[ID:nL09474356] [RTRS-EUROPE-MCE-ECI-SK]

MARCH INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT BELOW FORECAST

Slovak industrial output rose by a real 12.5 percent year-on-year in March, slowing from a revised 15.4 percent in February, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL09315291] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]

MARCH CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT +16.1 PCT Y/Y

Slovak construction output rose by a real 16.1 percent year-on-year in March, after 25.6 percent annual growth in February, the Statistics Office said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL09315642] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

------------

FUEL PRICES DEBATE

Prime Minister Robert Fico has so far reached no agreement with refiner Slovnaft , the Slovak unit of Hungary's oil group MOL , on fuel prices. Fico has criticised Slovnaft for too expensive fuels, while the refiner says it is setting prices according to world markets.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 4

VAT ON BOOKS, INTERNET

The finance ministry will say in June whether it will be possible to cut the value added tax (VAT) on books and internet from 19 to 10 percent.

Pravda, page 1

SINGLE HEALTH INSURER

Health-care Minister Ivan Valentovic still prefers creation of only one health-care insurance company, despite opposition from Smer's coalition partners HZDS and the Slovak National Party.

Sme, 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]

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]