...estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) data. A Reuters poll forecast an increase of 8.6 percent. **************************************************************** KEY POINTS GDP Q3/07 (estimate) Q2/07 Q3/07 fcast (pct change y/y) +9.4 +9.4 +8.6 - The Statistics Office does not release detailed data in its flash GDP estimate. - Third quarter GDP in nominal prices totalled 482.5 billion crowns ($21.37 billion). STATISTICS OFFICE COMMENT: "Acceleration of GDP was related to growth of added value in manufacturing, particularly in manufacturing of machinery, electrical equipment and transportation means. From the expenditure side, GDP growth was influenced mainly by continued foreign demand, along side persistent growth of domestic demand." MARKET REACTION The Slovak crown firmed slightly after GDP data, trading at 32.870 to the euro , compared with 32.900 earlier in the session. BACKGROUND - Higher-than-forecast third quarter growth should not be a major surprise to analysts because data showed last week an unexpected trade surplus for September and a downward revision of cumulative trade deficit for January-August. - The Slovak economy has been showing one of the highest growth rates in the European Union in the past few years. - GDP growth has been helped by rising car export volumes and solid domestic demand as household consumption rises after years of belt-tightening reforms. - Investments have also increased in the past year, mainly thanks to large project such as car factories of French PSA Peugeot and South Korean Kia Motors . LINKS: - For further details on past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak Statistics Office's website: http://wwww.statistics.sk/webdata/english/index2_a.htm - 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 .............................. (Reporting by Peter Laca) ($1=22.58 Slovak Crown) Keywords: SLOVAKIA GDP/
[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]