Slovakia - Factors To Watch on June 1

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Q1 GDP DATA DUE OUT

The statistics office will release detailed Q1 GDP data (0700 GMT). A news conference follows at 0800 GMT. The Office's flash estimate showed the economy accelerated by 8.9 percent, while analysts had expected growth of 10.5 percent in the January-March period.

CENTRAL STATE BUDGET

The finance ministry will publish central state budget data for January-May. No time has been set for the release.

Previous stories on Slovak data...........[SK-RTRS-LEN-ECI]

Overview of economic data and forecasts.........

Real-time economic indicators.....................

C.BANK FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES

The central bank will publish its weekly foreign currency reserves data at 1200 GMT.

REFORMS WANING IN EU'S NEWEST MEMBERS -WORLD BANK

The pace of reforms in the EU's east European members has slowed and most countries in the region are not taking advantage of strong growth to improve public finances, the World Bank said in a report on Thursday.

[ID:nL31181015] [RTRT-IMF-EUROPE-SK]

CROWN BREAKS KEY LEVEL ON EMERGING FX BULLS

The Slovak crown firmed through a psychological level of 34.0 against the euro on Thursday as investors returned to emerging markets and drove central European currencies higher, traders said.

[ID:nL31688068] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

PENTA BUYS POLAND'S ZABKA CHAIN -AGENCY

Investment group Penta has agreed to buy the Polish grocery chain operator Zabka Polska for 3.7 billion crowns ($175 million), the CTK news agency reported on Thursday.

[ID:nL31343976] [RTRS-MRG-EUROPE-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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ELECTION CODE

The far-right Slovak National Party, a junior member of the coalition government, is mulling a proposal to change the election code, to limit representatives from minority groups in parliament to one deputy for each minority group.

Sme, page 2

WAGES DOUBLE SINCE 1997

Slovak wages rose by more than 96 percent since 1997, but gender wage discrepancies have widened with women's wages 27 percent below male salaries, compared with 21.5 percent in 1997.

Sme, page 6

CHEAPER CREDITS, LOANS

Growing competition among Slovak banks has made credit and loan fees, tariffs and rates cheaper this year, analysts said. The central bank's monetary policy also provided a positive contribution.

Pravda, page 1

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: Martin Dokoupil, 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)