Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 30

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GOVERNMENT MEETING

The government will hold a regular meeting in the eastern Slovak town of Sobrance.

TELEFONICA NEWS CONFERENCE

Mobile phone services provider, Telefonica O2 Slovakia, to hold a news conference, 0830 GMT.

CBANK HOLDS RATES, SIGNALS EASING PAUSE

The Slovak central bank (NBS) left interest rates unchanged at a policy meeting on Tuesday and signalled a pause in the current monetary policy easing as recent inflation and trade data were worse than expected.

[ID:nL29581569] [RTRS-CEN-PLCY-SK]

CBANKER: BOARD UNANIMOUS IN HOLDING RATES

The Slovak central bank (NBS) held interest rates at a policy meeting on Tuesday because recent economic data differed slightly from forecasts and the NBS needs more time to analyse the figures, Governor Ivan Sramko said.

[ID:nPRG000365] [RTRS-CEN-PLCY-SK]

CBANK APRIL INTERVENTION HIT 700 MLN EUROS

The Slovak central bank (NBS) said on Tuesday it had bought 700 million euros in one intervention aimed at curbing the crown's strength on April 4.

[ID:nL29191430] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK]

END-MARCH CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS SKK 0.7 BLN

Slovakia's current account showed a preliminary surplus of 0.7 billion crowns ($27.79 million) at the end of the first quarter, compared with a gap of 23.3 billion a year ago, the central bank (NBS) said on Tuesday.

[ID:nPRG000366] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-CEN-SK]

GAS FIRM SPP 2006 PROFIT JUMPS, DIVIDENDS UP

Slovakia's top natural gas firm Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP) reported on Tuesday a 17.6 percent jump in its net profit for 2006, and decided to pay the entire amount out in dividends.

[ID:nL29658442] [RTRS-ELG-NGS-SK]

CROWN DOWN VS EURO ON REGION, IGNORES C.BANK

Bearish sentiment on emerging markets pushed the Slovak crown weaker against the euro on Tuesday and analysts said the unit was likely to ease further in the short-run.

[ID:nL2911162] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

CBANK DRAINS SKK 168 BLN IN 2-WK REPO

The Slovak central bank (NBS) accepted all bids in a regular two-week repo tender on Tuesday, draining 167.892 billion crowns ($6.64 billion) from the market.

[ID:nL2963826] [RTRS-FRX-CEN-SK]

END-FEB FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $32.2 BLN

Slovakia's gross foreign debt rose to $32.177 billion at the end of February from $31.280 billion at the end of January, the central bank (NBS) said on Tuesday.

[ID:nL29293475] [RTRS-MMT-ECI-CEN-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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CBANK DEPUTY GOVERNOR

Viliam Ostrozlik, appointed to the central bank's policy-making board earlier this year, is the most likely candidate for the post of central bank deputy governor, sources who wished not to be named said.

Pravda, page 2

FUEL PRICES

Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to bring Slovak petrol fuel prices to the lowest level in the European Union. The government would have to cut excise taxes to achieve that goal and make fuels less expensive, analysts said.

Sme, page 7

SLOVAKIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND SUE EU

Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland will file a lawsuit against the European Commission (EC), against its fine for excess inventories of some goods.

Sme, page 9

AUSTRIA IMMORENT TO INVEST $238 MLN IN KOSICE

Austria's Immorent is expected to build an industrial-logistic centre, worth 6 billion crowns ($238.2 million), in the eastern Slovak town of Kosice.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 13

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=25.19 Slovak Crown)

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]