...
EURO CONFERENCE
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Finance Minister Jan Pociatek, central bank Governor Ivan Sramko speak at a conference on Slovakia's euro adoption, 0710 GMT.
GDP SLOWS IN Q1, NO INFLATION RISKS SEEN
Slovak economic growth slowed slightly in the first quarter and analysts said one of the EU's hottest economies showed no signs of inflationary pressures despite accelerating household demand.
[ID:nL01248678] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-CEN-SK]
[ID:nPRG000372]
JAN-MAY BUDGET DEFICIT WIDENS Y/Y
The Slovak central state budget showed a deficit of 13.05 billion crowns ($517 million) for January-May, compared with a 11.7 billion crown gap in the first five months of 2006, the finance ministry said on Friday.
[ID:nL01287221] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-SK]
CARREFOUR SAYS FOUND BUYERS FOR SLOVAK HYPERMARKETS
France's Carrefour , the world's second-largest retailer, said on Friday it had lined up buyers for four Slovak hypermarkets after an earlier attempt to sell them to Tesco was blocked by antitrust regulators.
[ID:nL01677590] [RTRS-RET-MRG-SK]
Q1 REAL AVERAGE WAGE +4.2 PCT Y/Y
The real average wage in Slovakia rose by 4.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2007, accelerating from 3.9 percent growth in the fourth quarter, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Friday.
[ID:nL01362380] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]
C.BANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $17.66 BLN
The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves edged up to $17.658 billion as of May 30, from $17.603 billion a week ago, the bank said on Friday.
[ID:nL01470580] [RTRS-CEN-FRX-SK]
CROWN AT 1-WK HIGH AS EMERGING MKTS RECOVER
The Slovak crown firmed to a one-week high of 33.810 per euro on Friday as emerging markets continued recovery from recent capital outflows, dealers said.
[ID:nL0191210] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]
PRESS DIGEST
------------
LACK OF WORKERS
Slovakia's companies are facing a lack of skilled workers, an effect of country's booming economy and falling unemployment, but imports of workers from other EU members, such as Bulgaria, Romania and non-EU member Ukraine, face administrative obstacles.
Sme, page 1
TRANSPETROL 2006 NET PROFIT SKK 491 MLN
Slovakia's oil pipeline operator Transpetrol posted a net profit of 491 million crowns ($19.45 million) in 2006, but will pay no dividends, following a court's preliminary ruling. Government holds a majority stake of 51 percent.
Sme, page 6
LABOUR OFFICE WATCH
Slovak Labour Office is monitoring employees' e-mail correspondence, violating decision of the European Court of Human Right. One employee was fired, and some consider to file a law suit against the Office.
Pravda, page 1
DOCTORS PROTEST MARCH
Slovakia's doctors will attend a protest march in Bratislava on June 18, day when Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico meets his Hungary's, Poland and Czech republic counterparts, in reaction to unsuccessful talks over wage raises.
Hospodarske Noviny, 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: Alan Crosby, on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935
E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk
Reuters Messaging: martin.santa.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=25.24 Slovak Crown)