Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 24

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SARIO NEWS CONFERENCE

The government investment agency SARIO will hold a news conference, 0800 GMT.

NATIONAL PROPERTY FUND NEWS CONFERENCE

The National Property Fund, the state privatisation agency, will hold a news conference on unbundling at electricity distributors, 0730 GMT.

SLOVAKS GET NEW C.BANKER, NO BIG POLICY SHIFT SEEN

The Slovak government on Wednesday approved the admission of Gabriela Sedlakova to the central bank's policy-making board, with markets expecting no major shift in monetary policy.

[ID:nL23296105] [RTRS-CEN-PLCY-POL-SK]

CBANK SEEN LEAVING RATES ON HOLD IN MAY

The Slovak central bank will probably keep rates on hold in May after two consecutive cuts as the crown has stabilised and the European Central Bank is seen tightening its policy, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

[ID:nL23518218] [RTRS-PLCY-INT-FRX]

SLOVAKS TO BAN HEALTH INSURERS FROM MAKING PROFITS

The Slovak government plans to ban health insurance companies from making profits in order to pump more money into the loss-making healthcare system, Healthcare Minister Ivan Valentovic said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL23575896] [RTRS-HEA-PLCY-DRU-SK]

SLOVAK UTILITY PROFITABLE IN 2006, REVISES 2005

Slovakia's dominant power generator, Slovenske Elektrarne (SE), controlled by Italy's Enel , made a profit last year and significantly revised its bottom line for 2005, it said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL23361720] [RTRS-ELG-RES-NUC-SK]

CROWN PARES LOSSES, SEEN LACKING TREND

The Slovak crown pared early losses against the euro on Wednesday, lifted by an improved mood on emerging markets and dealers said regional swings will remain the currency's main driver in the coming days.

[ID:nL23501857] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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GOVT BALANCE OF POWER

Jan Slota, the leader of a junior ruling party, the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), said he wanted to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday to debate redistribution of power within the ruling pact. Slota had said SNS wanted the defence ministry, and the other junior partner, the HZDS party, wanted the healthcare ministry.

Sme, page 1

HEADS OF PARLIAMENTS

Heads of parliaments of European Union members and candidates will meet in Bratislava. The agenda should include a debate on political situation in Ukraine.

Sme, page 2

CAR PARTS JOINT VENTURE

U.S. car parts maker Johnson Controls will create a joint venture with Belgium's Recticel to boost production in Slovakia and build a new assembly plant in the Polish town of Zora.

Sme, page 7

TRANSPETROL STAKE

Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek wants to meet with officials of Yukos Finance, the Dutch unit of the stricken Russian oil firm YUKOS, to debate a buyback of a 49 percent stake in Slovakia's oil pipeline operator Transpetrol.

Sme, page 7

POWER FIRM TAX AUDIT

The dominant power firm Slovenske Elektrarne (SE), owned by Italy's Enel , will face a tax audit after it significantly revised the 2005 result from a profit to a loss.

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]