Slovakia - Factors To Watch on June 7

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PM FICO AT VOLKSWAGEN

Prime Minister Robert Fico visits Volkswagen's assembly plant near Bratislava, 0900 GMT.

MAY INFLATION SEEN AT RECORD LOW, RATES FLAT

Slovak consumer prices rose at a record low pace in May, but the central bank (NBS) will keep interest rates steady this month with euro zone lending costs on the rise, according to a Reuters poll on Wednesday.

[ID:nL06446942] [RTRS-INT-FRX-CEN-SK]

CROWN HITS 3-MO LOWS VS EURO, DIRECTION UNCLEAR

The Slovak crown eased to a three-month low of 34.230 per euro on Wednesday, hit by weakness on emerging markets, but dealers were split over the unit's short-term direction.

[ID:nL06923394] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

TRICHET ON SLOVAKIA

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Wednesday he did not want to pre-judge whether Slovakia will meet the euro entry criteria on currency stability:

"We will see when the time comes (what) our judgment is on the stability of the currency. I don't want to pre-judge at this stage. We will see if and when the Slovakian authorities are presenting their request," he said.

[nECBNEWS]

[ID:nL06320722] [RTRS-ECB-EU-POL-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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SOCIAL INSURER

Slovakia's Social Insurance Company showed a surplus of 2.82 billion crowns ($112.2 million) in its budget in 2006.

Sme, page 6

HEATING COMPANIES

Slovakia will not sell the country's six heating companies, despite Economy Ministry's initial intention to do so.

Sme, page 7

URANIUM DEPOSIT

The value of an uranium deposit, of 3.6 million tones, near the eastern Slovak town of Kosice is estimated at $4 billion.

Pravda, page 21

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.dokoupil.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=25.14 Slovak Crown)