Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Jan 12

    Here are news stories, press 
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial 
markets on Friday. 
     
     
    DECEMBER INFLATION 
    The Statistics Office will release December headline and 
core inflation data. Analysts forecast headline consumer prices 
to have risen by 0.1 percent month-on-month, for an annual rate 
of 4.3 percent. Core inflation is expected at 0.1 percent on the 
month, and 2.9 percent year-on-year. (0800 GMT). 
     
    NOV RETAIL SALES 
    The Statistics Office will release November retail sales 
data. Analysts forecast annual growth of 8.0 percent. (0800 
GMT). 
     
    NOV INDUSTRIAL WAGE 
    The Statistics Office will release the average industrial 
wage data for November (0800 GMT). 
     
    C.BANK TO RELEASE WEEKLY FOREX RESERVES DATA 
    The central bank will release weekly foreign currency 
reserves data, 1300 GMT. 
     
    NOV TRADE GAP WIDENS, OUTPUT GROWTH SOLID 
    Slovakia's foreign trade gap widened in November, 
preliminary data showed on Thursday, but analysts said it should 
soon start to narrow as new car makers gradually increase 
production. 
    [nL11569479] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-TRD-SK] 
     
    NOV TRADE GAP WIDENS TO SKK 9.25 BLN 
    Slovakia's foreign trade balance showed a deficit of 9.25 
billion crowns in November, compared with a revised gap of 5.48 
billion crowns in October, the Statistics Office said on 
Thursday. 
    [nL11855853] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-TRD-SK] 
     
    NOV IND OUTPUT RISE BELOW FCAST 
    Slovak industrial output rose by a real 9.8 percent 
year-on-year in November, slowing from an 11.1 percent increase 
in October, Slovak Statistics Office said on Thursday. 
    [nL11933030] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    NOV CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT +11.7 PCT Y/Y 
    Slovak construction output rose by a real 11.7 percent 
year-on-year in November after 9.1 percent growth in October, 
the Statistics Office said on Thursday. 
    [nL11291991] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK] 
     
    CROWN RECOVERS ON REGION, LACKS TREND 
    The Slovak crown pared recent losses on Thursday lifted by 
brighter emerging market sentiment, and dealers said regional 
swings will remain the market's key driver in coming sessions. 
    [nL11409524] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    OPPOSITION DEFENDS PENSION REFORM 
    The strongest opposition party SDKU has drafted a 
constitutional law aimed at protecting the pension system 
reform. The motion, submitted to parliament, should prevent 
changing the parametres of the private pension scheme, which 
some government officials said they were thinking of doing. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    MECIAR'S HEART SURGERY 
    Vladimir Meciar, a former Prime Minister and one of the 
current three governing coalition leaders, has undergone a heart 
surgery, according to an opposition deputy Vladimir Palko. 
Meciar's party did not deny, or confirm the information. 
    Sme, page 2 
     
    LAYOFF PLANS 
    Most ministries have note yet prepared a plan how to lay off 
around a fifth of their staff by the end of January, which they 
are supposed to do to comply with cost savings plans presented 
by Prime Minister Robert Fico. 
    Pravda, page 25 
     
    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: bratislava.newsroom@reuters.com 
    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] 
 ((Bratislava Newsroom; Email: bratislava.newsroom@reuters.com; 
+421-905-602-847)) 
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[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]