Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 2

    Here are news stories, press 
repors and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial 
markets on Friday. 
     
    FOREX RESERVES DATA 
    The central bank to publish its weekly foreign currency 
reserves data, 2 p.m. (1300 GMT). 
     
    TAX REVENUES 
    The finance ministry is expected to present an updated 
prediction of tax revenues for 2007. 
     
    STRONG GDP GROWTH SEEN HELPING BUDGET GOALS 
    Slovakia's state budget income exceeded spending in January, 
data showed on Thursday, and analysts said accelerating economic 
growth in 2007 would allow for comfortable fulfilment of the 
euro-entry fiscal condition. 
    [ID:nL01863317] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-ECI-SK] 
     
    JAN STATE BUDGET SURPLUS SKK 2.9 BLN 
    The Slovak central state budget showed a surplus of 2.9 
billion crowns ($108.1 million) at the end of January, compared 
with a 12.1 billion crown surplus a year ago, the finance 
ministry said on Thursday. 
    [ID:nL01911634] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-ECI-SK] 
     
    CROWN AT 1-WK HIGH AS REGION REBOUNDS 
    The Slovak crown hit a one week high of 34.800 per euro on 
Thursday as investors boosted positions in emerging markets, 
with dealers predicting further short-term gains driven by an 
improved regional mood. 
    [ID:nL01801056] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    FICO CLASHES WITH OPPOSITION 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico has clashed with the opposition 
in parliament over the pension system. Fico has said Slovaks 
could loose pension savings in the private scheme. 
    Sme, page 2 
     
    TRANSPETROL 
    Slovak and Russian officials are expected to meet by the end 
of February to debate further development in the aquisition of 
the 49 percent stake in the Slovak oil pipeline operator 
Transpetrol, held by the strircken oil firm YUKOS. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    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: martin.dokoupil.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] 
 
 ((Compiled by Martin Santa; Bratislava Newsroom; Email: 
editorial@reuters.sk; +421-2-5341-8402)) 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]