Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 31

...

WORLD BANK REPORT

The World Bank will present a report on economic developments in EU members from central and eastern Europe.

STATS OFFICE ON WAGES

The Statistics Office will hold a news conference on wage trends between 1997-2006.

GOVT NOMINATES OSTROZLIK AS C.BANK VICE-GOV

The Slovak government nominated on Wednesday Viliam Ostrozlik as vice-governor of the Slovak central bank (NBS), aiming to promote the former banking executive from his position of a regular policy board member.

[ID:nL30341425] [RTRS-CEN-PLCY-SK]

KIA UNIT SEES MEETING FULL-YEAR OUTPUT GOAL

South Korea's Kia Motors said on Wednesday it had raised output at its new Slovak plant in May, allowing it to meet the full-year production goals.

[ID:nL30342969] [SK-CZE]

CROWN HITS 3-MO LOWS VS EURO, SEEN IN RANGE

The Slovak crown eased on Wednesday to touch a nearly three-month low against the euro, hit by weakness in the neighbouring markets, and dealers saw the unit trading in a wider range in the coming days.

[ID:nL30532915] [RTRS-SK-FRX]

PRESS DIGEST

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

UKRAINE BORDER READY FOR SCHENGEN

Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia's protection of its eastern border with Ukraine complies with the requirements for accession to EU's borderless Schengen area.

Sme, page 2

TELEFONICA TO START POST-PAID SERVICES

Telefonica O2 Slovakia will start providing post-paid mobile phone services next week. The third operator on the Slovak market is expected to drive prices of mobile phone services down.

Sme, page 1

SLOVAK WAGE GROWTH

Slovakia is becoming a more expensive location for foreign investors because of rising salaries, analysts say. Industrial wages have risen by around 50 percent in the past five years, according to ING Bank. However, the hourly wage still accounts for only 22 percent of the EU average from before 2004 enlargement.

Pravda, page 9

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]