INSTANT VIEW 1-Slovak Sept trade surplus surprises mkt

...billion in August, the Statistics Office said on Friday. ***************************************************************

KEY POINTS: FOREIGN TRADE SEPT 07 SEPT 07 FCAST (SKK bln) Balance +4.7 -3.5

(Full table of data.......................[ID:nBSD000049])

NOTE:

The market had expected a trade deficit of 3.5 billion crowns in September, according to a Reuters survey of analysts earlier this month . - The Statistics Office did not release a detailed breakdown of September trade data. - The August balance was revised to a deficit of 5.157 billion crowns from a previously reported gap of 7.565 billion. - The Statistics Office revised in October full-year 2006 trade figures to a deficit of 75.256 billion crowns, from the previously reported gap of 93.100 billion.

MARKET REACTION:

The Slovak crown traded a touch firmer after the foreign trade data, standing at 33.100 to the euro as of 0810 GMT, compared with 33.140 early in the session and a close of 33.135 on Thursday.

BACKGROUND: - Slovakia's foreign trade deficit widened in 2006, mainly due to rising imports of equipment needed for investment projects such as car factories of PSA Peugeot Citroen and Kia Motors . - But the external balance is improving in 2007 as the new car assembly plants boost their export-oriented production.

LINKS: - For further details on September foreign trade and other past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak Statistics Office's website: http://portal.statistics.sk/showdoc.do?docid=359 - For LIVE Slovak economic data releases, click on...... - Schedule of upcoming indicator releases............ - Summary of short-term economic data forecasts...... - Stories on Slovak currency moves........................[SKK/] - Slovak speed money guide .............................. - Slovak benchmark state bond prices ................. - Slovak forward money market rates ....................

(Reporting by Martin Santa)

($1=22.53 Slovak Crown)

Keywords: SLOVAKIA ECONOMY/TRADE

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]