Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 8

    Here are news stories, press 
repors and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial 
markets on Thursday. 
     
    DECEMBER INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT 
    The Statistics Office will publish December industrial 
output data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). Analysts forecast industrial 
production to have risen by 8.9 percent on the year in December. 
     
    DECEMBER CONSTRUCTION DATA 
    The Statistics Office will publish December construction 
output data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). 
     
    DECEMBER RETAIL SALES DATA 
    The Statistics Office will publish December retail sales 
data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). Analysts forecast retail sales to have 
risen by 7.3 percent year-on-year in December. 
     
    DECEMBER AVG INDUSTRIAL WAGE 
    The Statistics Office will publish December average 
industrial wage data, 9 a.m. (0800 GMT). 
     
    QUESTION HOUR 
    Government ministers will answer queries from MPs during a 
regular question hour in parliament, 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) 
     
    MPS PASS LAW TIGHTENING GRIP OVER UTILITIES 
    The Slovak lawmakers approved on Wednesday a bill designed 
to give the state more powers to better control energy prices as 
the leftist government moves to tighten grip over the European 
Union member's economy. 
    [ID:nL07464142] [RTRS-ELG-EMRG-SK] 
     
    SLOVAKIA SUES EU COMMISSION OVER CO2 LIMIT CUT 
    Slovakia became the first country on Wednesday to launch a 
court challenge against the European Commission (EC) over its 
demand that the country cut its proposed annual carbon dioxide 
emissions from 2008-2012. 
    [ID:nL0780570] [RTRS-JUDIC-ENR-CO2-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    FICO SAID CHINA VISIT BREAKTHROUGH 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico said his visit to China was a 
breakthrough in relations between the two countries, and that 
Slovak economy will benefit from it in coming years. 
    Sme, page 3 
     
    KIA LACKS WORKERS 
    The Slovak plant of South Korean car maker Kia Motors 
 said it lacked 300 skilled workers needed to 
increase production capacity. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    GOVT TO LIMIT INFORMATION ACCESS 
    The parliament is expected to debate proposal that will ban 
public access to records from government meetings. The 
opposition and non-government organisations have said the motion 
would violate the right for access to information. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    EMPLOYERS OPPOSE LABOUR CODE 
    Slovakia's employers oppose the new labour code proposal and 
aim to change it. The trade unions said they were satisfied as 
the government had met almost all of their requirements. 
    Pravda, page 2 
     
    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)) 
 ($1=26.92 Slovak Crown) 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]