INSTANT VIEW-Slovak Aug trade gap shrinks to SKK 4.4 bln

    Oct 12 (Reuters) - Slovakia's foreign trade balance showed a 
deficit of 4.4 billion crowns ($149.7 million) in August, 
compared with a revised gap of 6.6 billion crowns in July, the 
Statistics Office said on Thursday. 
     
KEY POINTS 
FOREIGN TRADE        AUG 06    JULY 06    AUG 05   JAN-DEC 05 
 (SKK bln) 
 Imports             110.193   103.747    81.605    1,070.893 
 Exports             105.829    97.105    81.209      994.571 
 Balance              -4.364    -6.642    -0.396      -76.322 
DYNAMICS OF TRADE  
 (pct y/y change in SKK terms) 
 nominal imports      35.0       25.0       8.9          13.9 
 nominal exports      30.3       24.2      16.5          11.6 
 
- The market had predicted a trade deficit of 2.4 billion crowns 
in August, according to a Reuters survey of analysts. 
- The Statistics Office does not release a more detailed 
breakdown of August trade data. 
- The July balance is revised from a previously reported 
shortfall of 7.32 billion crowns. 
 
MARKET REACTION: 
- The market shows no immediate reaction to the data. The crown 
trades at 36.850 per euro as of 0705 GMT, in sight of its 
all-time high of 36.820 hit on Wednesday. 
     
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 later in 2006 
and in 2007 when the two plants are scheduled to start 
exporting. 
 
LINKS 
- For further details on August 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=29.39 Slovak Crown) 
  Keywords: ECONOMY SLOVAKIA TRADE