Slovakia - Factors To Watch on July 13

...

FOREX RESERVES

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

SLOVAKIA SEEKS INVESTORS TO SPEED UP HIGHWAY BUILDING

Slovakia will seek private investment to help complete the construction of a key highway to the east by 2010, three years sooner than the transport ministry had planned, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday.

[ID:nL12845293] [RTRS-CON-RRL-POL-SK]

JUNE CPI TOUCH ABOVE FCASTS, RATES SEEN FLAT

Slovak inflation rose slightly above market expectations in June, but analysts said the nature of the price pressures suggested rates could stay on hold in coming months.

[ID:nL12676678] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-INT-SK]

[ID:nL12625976]

MAY TRADE GAP DOUBLE EXPECTATIONS

Slovakia's foreign trade balance showed a higher than expected deficit of 3.539 billion Slovak crowns ($145.9 million) in May, compared with a revised gap of 1.0 billion in April, the Statistics Office said on Thursday.

[ID:nL12624316] [RTRS-MCE-TRD-ECI-SK]

CROWN FIRMS TO 14-WK PEAK VS EURO, SEEN UP

The Slovak crown rose to a 14-week peak against the euro on Thursday, ignoring weak trade data, and dealers said more firming was on the cards in the short run.

[ID:nL12189526] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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

PRIVATE PENSION SAVING SCHEME AND EURO

Analysts said the Labour Ministry's proposal to open up the private pension savings scheme and allow people to take money and leave would pour money into the economy and risk higher inflation just as Slovakia needs to meet euro entry conditions.

Coalition partners of Prime Minister Robert Fico's SMER party also criticised the proposal.

Sme, page 1 and 7

SLOVAKIA SUES EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The Slovak justice ministry said it filed a law suit against the European Commission due to a 3.6 mln euro fine levied on Slovakia for excessive reserves of canned mandarines, canned mushrooms and rice.

Sme, page 6

VOLKSWAGEN'S TAX RELIEF

The finance ministry said tax relief for German car group Volkswagen would amout to 18 billion crowns ($745.3 million) by 2008. Volkswagen's investment in Slovakia, since 1991, is seen at 60 billion crowns.

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: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk

Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.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=24.25 Slovak Crown) ($1=24.15 Slovak Crown)