Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 22

    Here are news stories, press 
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial 
markets on Thursday. 
     
    AIR TRAFFIC STRIKE 
    Almost half of Slovak air traffic controllers will go on a 
two-hour strike, 10 a.m. (0900 GMT). 
     
    CBANK SEEN LEAVING RATES ON HOLD IN FEB 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) will probably leave interest 
rates on hold next week, waiting for more indications of the 
inflation outlook and robust economic growth, analysts said on 
Wednesday. 
    [ID:nL21600679] [RTRS-CEN-PRE-INT-SK] 
     
    CROWN DIPS VS EURO ON REGIONAL WEAKNESS 
    The Slovak crown eased to a one-week low of 34.450 against 
the euro on Wednesday, hit by weakness in neighbouring markets, 
dealers said. 
    [ID:nL21165024] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    HOSPITAL BED CUTS 
    The health-care ministry plans to cut hospital capacities by 
6,000 beds to save money. Analysts and health insurance 
companies have criticised the cost-saving plan. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    FINMIN CONFIRMS EURO DEBT STRATEGY 
    The finance ministry has confirmed a strategy to gradually 
increase the ratio of euro denominated debt as part of the plan 
to adopt the euro in 2009. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    CO2 VERDICT SEEN IN APRIL 
    The environment ministry expects a ruling in April on an 
appeal against the European Commission's decision to cut 
Slovakia's annual carbon dioxide emissions cap for 2008-2012. 
    Sme, page 7 
     
    COST SAVINGS PLAN HITS SNAG 
    The government's plan to dismiss 20 percent of civil 
servants to reduce public administration costs is seen as 
unrealistic by majority of ministries, the finance ministry said 
in a report. 
    Hospodarske Noviny, page 4 
     
    For news on upcoming events in the 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: Alan Crosby, on +421 2 5341 8402; 
fax: +421 2 5341 8403 
    E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk 
    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] 
 
 ((Compiled by Martin Santa; Bratislava Newsroom; Email: 
editorial@reuters.sk; +421-2-5341-8402)) 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]