Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 28

...

PROCUCER PRICES DATA

The Statistics Office will publish producer price inflation data for April, 0700 GMT. Analysts forecast producer prices to have risen by 0.3 percent on the month, and by 2.8 percent on the year.

STATE BOND AUCTION

The Debt and Liquidity Management Agency will auction 5-year, zero-coupon state bonds on behalf of the finance ministry.

BOSNIA'S RADMANOVIC IN SLOVAKIA

Bosnia's Presidency chairman Nebojsa Radmanovic visits to Slovakia.

CBANKER SAYS NO COMMENT ON EURO RUMOUR

The Slovak central bank will not comment on a market rumour that the conversion rate for swapping the crown currency to the euro was to be set in the near future, Vice-Governor Martin Barto told Reuters on Friday.

[ID:nL25614234] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK]

CROWN FURTHER DOWN ON REGION, EURO RUMOUR

The Slovak crown weakened through 34.0 level against the euro to a 10-week low on Friday amid easing on global emerging markets and rumours of an early setting of an euro conversion rate for the currency.

[ID:nL25313813] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

VOLKSWAGEN TO BOOST SLOVAK UNIT OUTPUT IN 2007

Volkswagen will boost output at its Slovak plant this year to around 250,000 cars due to high demand for its models, VW Slovakia Chairman Andreas Tostmann, said on Friday.

[ID:nL25480827] [RTRS-AUT-EUROPE-SK]

C.BANK FOREX RESERVES FALL TO $17.6 BLN

The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves fell to $17.603 billion as of May 23 from $17.702 billion a week ago, the bank said on Friday.

[ID:nL25424466] [RTRS-CEN-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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

REFORMS REDUCE POVERTY

The reforms introduced by the previous centre-right government of Mikulas Dzurinda had helped to reduce poverty index to 11.6 percent in 2005, from 13.3 in 2004, a social sffairs ministry document showed.

Sme, page 1

HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES

Prime Minister Robert Fico has reiterated that the government wants to push private healthcare insurance companies out of the public health insurance system.

Pravda, page 4

HZDS LEADERSHIP CONTEST

Vladimir Meciar, the leader of a junior government party HZDS, has the support of the party's executive board ahead of the vote of the chairman, which is scheduled to take place at a congress on June 9. Meciar will face his Vice-Chairman, Viliam Veteska, in the vote.

Pravda, page 4

FUEL PRICES

Prime Minister Robert Fico says the government will take measures to bring petrol fuel prices to the lowest level in the European Union. Fico said he was ready to use all administrative tools to succeed.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 4

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]