Slovakia - Factors To Watch on June 25

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THE ECONOMIST ROUNDATBLE

Prime Minister Robert Fico, Central Bank Governor Ivan Sramko and Finance Minister Jan Pociatek will attend The Economist roundtable. Fico will deliver the keynote speech 1400 GMT.

PM FICO TO MEET EDF

Prime Ministert Robert Fico will meet Vice President of Electricite de France International, Marc Boudier, to debate EdF's investment plans in Slovakia. News conference 1015 GMT.

STATE BOND AUCTION

The Debt and Liquidity Management Agency will auction 3-year, zero-coupon state bonds on behalf of the finance ministry.

IMF SAYS SLOVAKIA WELL-POISED FOR EURO ADOPTION

The International Monetary Fund on Friday said Slovakia was well-positioned to adopt the euro as its currency as planned in 2009, although it still faced challanges getting its economic house in order.

[ID:nN22466884] [RTRS-EUR-EU-SK]

C.BANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $17.53 BLN

The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves edged up to $17.533 billion as of June 20, from $17.455 billion a week ago, the bank said on Friday. [ID:nL22785958] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

CROWN NEARS 5-WK PEAK, EYES RATE MEETING

The Slovak crown firmed against the euro on Friday, nearing five-week highs seen earlier this week, as investors await the central bank's (NBS) decision on interest rates next week, dealers said.

[ID:nL22859154] [RTRS-FRX-CEN-MMT-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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SIEMENS MULLS SLOVAK INVESTMENT

Germany's Siemens said it was considering building a train assembly-plant in Slovakia if it wins the 6.3 billion crown ($251.6 million) tender of the state-run Slovak Railways.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 13

ZSE PROFIT UP

Zapadoslovenska Energetika (ZSE), one of Slovakia's three electricity distribution companies, showed net profit of 3.4 billion crowns ($135.8 million) in 2006, a 14 percent increase year-on-year.

Sme, page 6

FOOD PRICES SEEN UP

Food prices in Slovakia will rise, the daily Pravda cited UniCredit Bank analysts as saying.

Pravda, page 19

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=25.04 Slovak Crown)