Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Nov 29

...    Government party HZDS will hold a news conference on 
tensions within the ruling coalition. HZDS Chairman Vladimir 
Meciar to attend. (0900 GMT)  
     
    SNS NEWS CONFERENCE 
    The far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), a government 
member, will hold a news conference on current political 
situation. (0900 GMT) 
    
   QUESTION HOUR 
   Prime Minister Robert Fico and government minister will 
answer deputies' questions during a regular question hour in 
parliament. (1300 GMT) 
     
    NUCLEAR SEIZURE 
    Police are expected to provide further information on 
Wednesday's seizure of a kilo (2.2 lbs) of radioactive material. 
     
    SLOVAK COALITION APPEARS CLOSE TO COLLAPSE 
    Slovakia's ruling coalition appeared close to collapse on 
Wednesday after a fresh fracture  between Prime Minister Robert 
Fico and his allies coincided with a parliamentary debate on the 
2008 budget. 
    [ID:nL2849663] [RTRS-POL-EEU-NEWS-SK] 
     
    FACTBOX-SCENARIOS IN SLOVAK COALITION CRISIS 
    The ruling Slovak coalition teetered on the brink of 
collapse on Wednesday amid a fresh row between leftist Prime 
Minister Robert Fico and his political partners, the centrist 
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). 
    [ID:nL2844370] [RTRS-EEU-NEWS-SK] 
     
    SLOVAKS SEIZE 1 KG OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL 
    Slovak and Hungarian police seized a kilo (2.2 lbs) of 
radioactive material and arrested three people in a joint 
operation on Wednesday, a spokesman said. 
    [ID:nL2837984] [RTRS-CRIM-NUC-NEWS-SK] 
     
    SLOVAKIA REVISES QUARTERLY 2007 GDP DATA DOWNWARDS 
    The Slovak Statistics Office has revised second quarter 
gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 9.3 percent, from an 
originally reported 9.4 percent annual increase, the office said 
on Wednesday. 
    [ID:nBSD000062] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK] 
    [ID:nL28329451] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    PPI SLIGHTLY ABOVE FORECASTS IN OCT 
    Slovak producer prices rose by 0.3 percent month-on-month in 
October, putting annual growth of factory-gate costs at 1.8 
percent, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Wednesday. 
    [ID:nL28709627] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    CROWN OFF ONE-WEEK HIGHS AS GOVT IN CRISIS 
    The Slovak crown slid from a one-week high against the euro 
on Wednesday on expectations of an imminent government collapse 
after the news that Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to end the 
ruling coalition. 
    [ID:nL28104166] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK-LEN] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    OPPOSITION NOT IN FAVOR OF SNAP ELECTION 
    The strongest opposition party SDKU, of ex-Prime Minister 
Mikulas Dzurinda, and Christian Democrats are not in favor of an 
early election. Dzurinda said SDKU would not enter the 
government in this election period, which ends 2010. 
    Sme, page 2 
     
    BUDGET, EURO ON TRACK 
    Analysts said escalation of political tensions within the 
ruling coalition would not endanger approval of the 2008 state 
budget. They also saw Slovakia staying on track towards euro 
adoption in 2009. 
    Sme, page 3 
     
    LOWER VAT ON BOOKS 
    The Parliament approved on Wednesday a cut in the value 
added tax on books to 10 percent from 19 percent, effective 
January 2008. 
    Pravda, page 20 
     
    AIRPORT NEGOTIATIONS 
    The transport ministry confirmed negotiations with Vienna 
Airport on cooperation with the Bratislava airport. The ministry 
said a joint-venture was among possible scenarios, but added it 
would be premature to say when the final decision would be 
taken. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    FUEL PRICES 
    Diesel prices will rise by 0.4 crowns ($0.017) per liter, 
and petrol fuel prices by 0.2 crowns per liter, effective 
November 29. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    LAW ON RETAILERS 
    The government approved on Wednesday a law designed to 
adjust relations between retailers and their suppliers. The new 
law does not specifically affect retailers' margins, which was 
previously announced by Prime Minister Robert Fico. 
    Pravda, page 21 
     
    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=22.58 Slovak Crown) 
 ($1=22.57 Slovak Crown) 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]