Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Aug 24

...   Deputy Finance Minister Frantisek Palko will address a 
seminar on euro adoption preparations in public administration, 
0700 GMT. 
     
    CBANK RESERVES 
    The central bank to publish its weekly foreign currency 
reserves, 1200 GMT. 
     
    RATES SEEN STEADY IN AUG, ECB IN FOCUS 
    The Slovak Central Bank (NBS) is likely to keep main rates 
on hold in August despite record low inflation as it waits for 
euro zone rates to rise and match Slovak borrowing costs, a 
Reuters poll showed on Thursday. 
    [ID:nL23712053] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK] 
    [ID:nL23733052] [RTRS-CEN-INT-PLCY-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    TRANSPETROL STAKE 
    The Slovak government will block the new owner of a 49 
percent stake in oil pipeline operator Transpetrol, acquired in 
an auction from the stricken Russian oil company YUKOS, unless 
it gives up the management rights. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    TRAFFIC LAW 
    The government has approved a law to tighten road and 
highway traffic rules. The new law brings in tougher and 
alternative fines and new duties for drivers. 
    SME, page 1 
     
    YOUNG LEFTISTS SLAM FICO 
    Slovakia's Young Leftists criticise Prime Minister Robert 
Fico for what they say are democratic shortcomings. 
    SME, page 2 
     
    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] 
  
  
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]