Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 18

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FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES

The central bank will release regular weekly foreign currency reserves, 1200 GMT.

FOREIGN OWNERS TO KEEP CONTROL IN SLOVAK UTILITIES

Foreign investors will keep control of Slovak electricity network firms after their spin-off required by the EU, contrary to original government plans to control energy distribution, a document said in Thursday.

[ID:nL17457585] [RTRS-ELG-ELE-POL-SK]

JOBLESS AT NEW LOW IN APRIL, MORE DROP SEEN

Slovakia's unemployment rate fell to a new record low of 8.5 percent due to rapid economic growth, and the Labour Office said on Thursday it expected a further decline in May.

[ID:nL17464390] [RTRS-JOB-MCE-ECI-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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SLOVAK TELEKOM SELLS RADIOKOM UNIT

The Slovak Telekom (ST), the dominant fixed-line operator, sold its TV and radio signal unit Radiokomunikacie to closely-held TRI R company for 3.5 billion crowns ($140.5 million).

Pravda, page 18

SECOND READING ON LABOUR CODE

The parliament passed the disputed draft of a new labour code into the second reading, during which deputies can submit amendment proposals.

Sme, page 2

SLOVAK-HUNGARIAN TENSIONS

Hungary asked Slovakia for a fair trial for Hedviga Malinova, after prosecutors charged her with perjury in a case that sparked diplomatic tensions between Budapest and Bratislava last year. Hedvigova, an ethnic Hungarian, said last year she had been beaten and robbed because of speaking Hungarian.

Sme, page 1

SMER KEEPS LEAD IN POLL

The Smer party of Prime Minister Robert Fico has kept popularity lead in May, taking 41.6 percent in a Statistics Office opinion poll. The SDKU party of former Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and Fico's ruling coalition partner, the Slovak National Party, had both 12 percent support in the poll.

Sme, page 2

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=24.91 Slovak Crown)

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]