Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 5

                                
 BRATISLAVA, March 5 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Thursday.
                                
 
                                
 GDP GROWTH FINAL DATA
                                
 The Statistics Office will publish final GDP data for the
four quarter and full-year of 2008, 0800 GMT. Flash estimate
showed economy grew by a real 2.7 percent annually in the fourth
quarter of 2008, putting the annual growth rate at 6.4 percent.
                                
 
                                
 AVERAGE WAGE DATA
                                
 The Statistics Office will publish average wage data for the
fourth quarter and full-year of 2008, 0800 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 GDP, INFLATION FORECASTS
                                
 The Statistics Office will publish its updated GDP growth
and inflation economic forecasts, 0800 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 RETAIL SALES DROP, FIRST TIME IN 4 YEARS
                                
 Slovak retail sales fell for the first time in four years in
January, data showed on Wednesday, as consumer uncertainty and
sour sentiment spilling over from EU economies weighed on the
euro zone newcomer.
                                
 [ID:nL4137262] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-RET-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKIA SPENDS 33 MLN EUR ON CAR-SCRAPPING SUBSIDY
                                
 The Slovak government will pay drivers up to 1,500 euros to
scrap cars over 10 years old and buy new vehicles, under a 33
million euro ($41.74 million) plan approved on Wednesday.
                                
 [ID:nL4881169] [RTRS-CARM-AUTO-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 VOLKSWAGEN LIMITS PRODUCTION IN SLOVAKIA IN APRIL
                                
 Germany's car group Volkswagen AG <VOWG.DE> said on
Wednesday it would scale back production at its Slovak assembly
plant for eight days in April.
                                
 [ID:nL4543121] [RTRS-TRD-CARM-AUTO-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 PRIVATE PENSION FUNDS
                                
 Cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico approved a cut in one
of fees charged by private pension funds for managing clients'
accounts. Fico said this was the start of a path towards
protection of clients, as their savings shink due to impacts of
the crisis.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 BEER PRICES UP
                                
 Heineken <HEIN.AS> said is increasing prices of beer in
Slovakia by 6.9 percent while another country's brewery Topvar
will go with an average 6.3 percent hike, as of March. Both
companies cited inflation and higher production costs as
reasons.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 13
                                
 
                                
 BANK BOARD MEMBER
                                
 Government named Stefan Kralik the 11th member of the
central bank's policy making bank board, filling the last empty
chair at the body's decision-making board.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 16
                                
 
                                
 DELHPI SLOVAKIA CUTS JOBS
                                
 Auto part maker Delphi <DLPH.PK> said could cut up to 419
jobs at its Slovak site due to impact of the global crisis.
                                
 Pravda, page 11
                                
 
                                
 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:
                                
 Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX50
<.PX50>
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