Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 22

...

DUTCH QUEEN VISIT

Dutch Queen Beatrix continues her three-day visit to Slovakia.

CBANK REPO TENDER

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

WHIRLPOOL NEWS CONFERENCE

Whirlpool will hold a news conference on first-quarter results of its Slovak factory.

SLOVENSKE ELEKTRARNE AGM

Power maker Slovenske Elektrarne will hold the annual general meeting.

SDKU NEWS CONFERENCE

The strongest opposition party SDKU will hold a news conference on state-owned media, 1330 GMT.

OPPOSITION SEES THREATS TO EURO ADOPTION

Slovakia risks missing its target of adopting the euro in 2009 even though it is likely to meet the entry criteria next year, opposition deputy and former finance minister Ivan Miklos said on Monday.

[ID:nL21565560] [RTRS-EUR-POL-SK]

STATS CHIEF REGRETS ANALYSTS' GDP OPTIMISM

The Slovak Statistics Office has criticised commercial bank analysts for too optimistic forecasts of gross domestic product growth, saying they may have hurt the currency, the daily Pravda reported on Monday.

[ID:nL21517206] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]

CROWN FIRMS, SEEN STRONGER ON REGION

The Slovak crown firmed against the euro on Monday as European emerging markets strengthened, and dealers said the positive regional mood could push the unit still higher.

[ID:nL21334056] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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

DOCTORS STRIKE ALERT

More Slovak doctors and nurses have declared strike alert, demanding a 30 percent wage rise. The ruling coalition and opposition politicians said such a wage increase would deepen the health sector deficit.

Sme, page 1

SLOVAK TELEKOM STAKE

The transportation ministry will transfer its 34 percent stake in the country's dominant fixed-line operator Slovak Telekom, managed by Deutsche Telekom , to the economy ministry. The economy ministry also formally holds another state 15 percent stake in the telecom firm.

Sme, page 6

EURO ADOPTION CHANCES HIGHER THAN RISKS

Slovakia's chances to adopt the euro in 2009 are higher than risks, analysts said. Former finance minister Ivan Miklos has said sustainability of fulfilment of the Maastricht criteria, namely inflation and public deficit, were risks for euro adoption.

Sme, page 7

CENTRAL BANK BOARD MEMBER

Gabriela Sedlakova, a nominee of a junior ruling coalition HZDS party, is expected to become a new central bank board member, the daily Pravda cited unnamed sources as saying. The government plans to debate nomination of the new board member on Wednesday.

Pravda, page 19

TELEFONICA's POST-PAID SERVICES IN JUNE

Telefonica O2 Slovakia is expected to launch its post-paid services in June. The company declined to give an exact date of start.

Pravda, page 20

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]