Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 15

...

GDP DATA

The Statistics Office will publish the flash estimate of first-quarter GDP data, 0700 GMT. Analysts polled by Reuters predicted record-high GDP growth of 10.5 percent.

REPO TENDER

The central bank will hold its regular liquidity-draining two-week repo tender.

NATO STANHOPE VISITS SLOVAKIA

NATO Deputy Supreme Commander Mark Stanhope and Slovak Defence Minister Frantisek Kasicky will hold a news conference.

CROWN HITS 2-WK TOP VS EURO BEFORE GDP DATA

The Slovak crown firmed on Monday to touch two-week highs against the euro, helped by expectations of strong first quarter GDP data, dealers said.

[ID:nL14722161] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

SLOVAKIA SELLS SKK 7.245 BLN WORTH OF 7-YR BONDS

Slovakia sold 7.245 billion crowns ($291.7 million) worth of 7-year, 4.9 percent state bonds in an auction on Monday, the finance ministry's Debt and Liquidity Management Agency said.

[ID:nL14583414] [RTRS-ISU-GVD0DBT-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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

LOWER FISCAL DEFICIT

Slovakia's macroeconomic condition would give room for lower public finance deficit than currently planned by the government, Deputy Finance Ministry, Frantisek Palko, said in an interview. Palko said the ministry might also revise upwards projections of GDP growth.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 6

PERJURY CHARGES

Prosecutirs have charged Hedviga Malinova, an ethnic Hungarian, with perjury. Malinova sparked a diplomatic row between Hungary and Slovakia last year by saying she had been beaten and robbed because of speaking Hungarian.

Sme, page 1

EXPORTS STRUCTURE CHANGE

The structure of Slovakia's export is changing, analysts said. Contribution of heavy industries is declining, while car and electronics sectors are boosting their share.

Sme, page 6

CHEAPER FUELS

Slovakia's sole oil refiner Slovnaft , a unit of Hungary's MOL , is lowering prices of petrol fuels by 50 hallers per litre as of today. Prices of diesel fuels remain unchanged.

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]

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]