INSTANT VIEW-Slovak Oct trade gap shrinks to SKK 4.98 bln

    BRATISLAVA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Slovakia's foreign trade 
balance showed a deficit of 4.98 billion crowns ($185.7 million) 
in October, compared with a revised gap of 9.87 billion crowns 
in September, the Statistics Office said on Tuesday. 
KEY POINTS: 
FOREIGN TRADE         OCT 06   SEPT 06    OCT 05    JAN-DEC 05 
 (SKK bln) 
 Balance              -4.979    -9.874    -6.761      -76.322 
 (Full table of data...........................[ID:nPRG000170]) 
    
 
- The market had predicted a trade deficit of 4.1 billion crowns 
in October, according to a Reuters poll of analysts. 
- The Statistics Office did not release a more detailed 
breakdown of October trade data. 
- The September balance is revised from a previously reported 
shortfall of 9.46 billion crowns. 
 
BACKGROUND: 
- Slovakia's foreign trade deficit has been widening in the past 
year, mainly due to rising imports of equipment needed for 
investment projects such as car factories being build by PSA 
Peugeot Citroen <PEUP.PA> and Kia Motors <000270.KS>. 
- But the external balance is expected to improve by the 
year-end and in 2007 when the two plants are scheduled to boost 
export capacities. 
 
LINKS 
- For further details on October foreign trade and other 
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......<ECONCZ> 
- Schedule of upcoming indicator releases............<SK/ECON09> 
- Summary of short-term economic data forecasts......<SK/ECON04> 
 
- Stories on Slovak currency moves........................[SKK/] 
- Slovak speed money guide ..............................<CZK/1> 
- Slovak benchmark state bond prices .................<0#SKBMK=> 
- Slovak forward money market rates ....................<SKKFRA> 
 
 ((Reporting by Martin Santa; Reuters Messaging: 
martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; Email: 
martin.santa@reuters.com; +421-2-5341-8402)) 
 ($1=28.25 Slovak Crown) 
  Keywords: SLOVAKIA TRADE/