Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Jan 24

                                
 BRATISLAVA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Thursday.
                                
 
                                
 C.BANK GOV ON EURO
                                
 Central Bank (NBS) Governor Ivan Sramko to address an
economic conference on euro adoption, 0830 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAK RATES SEEN FLAT DESPITE RISING INFLATION
                                
 The Slovak central (NBS) bank will probably leave interest
rates steady this month despite rising consumer prices, a
Reuters survey showed on Wednesday, as the country looks safe to
pass the inflation test for euro adoption.
                                
 [ID:nL23543035] [RTRS-SK-CEN-INT-PLCY]
                                
 [ID:nL23582373] [RTRS-SK-CEN-INT-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKS SEEK TO CAP PRICE HIKES AFTER EURO ENTRY
                                
 The Slovak government signed a pact with employers and
unions on Wednesday designed to secure smooth adoption of the
euro next year and avoid hefty price hikes after the currency
conversion.
                                
 [ID:nL23865128] [RTRS-SK-POL-EUR-MCE]
                                
 
                                
 OSCE SAYS SLOVAK GOVT DRAFT BILL CURBS FREE PRESS
                                
 Europe's human rights and security watchdog urged the Slovak
government on Wednesday to abandon proposed changes to the media
law, saying they would curb press freedom.
                                
 [ID:nL23862305] [RTRS-SK-POL-DIP-PUB]
                                
 
                                
 EU EXECUTIVE ADOPTS BLUEPRINT FOR CLIMATE FIGHT
                                
 The European Union's executive adopted plans on Wednesday to
slash greenhouse gas emissions, seeking to push the world into
tough climate action, but delayed key decisions on how to soften
the impact on industry.
                                
 [ID:nL23609671] [RTRS-CON-MET-ELG-CO2-ENV-NEWS]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 HEATING PRICES
                                
 Slovak heating companies plan to ask the energy market
watchdog to allow an average 3.5 percent price hike for
households from March due to an increase in natural gas prices.
                                
 Pravda, page 1
                                
 
                                
 MEDIA LAW
                                
 Slovak Culture Minister Marek Madaric sees no reason to
withdraw proposed changes to a media law, adding a criticism by
the OSCE, Europe's human rights and security watchdog, came too
late and was politically motivated.
                                
 Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 EU TREATY
                                
 A Slovak parliamentary legislative council recommended to
ratify the EU's Lisbon Treaty, designed to streamline
decision-making in the bloc, but said the document was unclear
and inapprehensible.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 2
                                
 
                                
 For news on upcoming events in the United States and other
Group  of Seven countries, see <G7TODAY>. 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: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net
                                
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:
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