Slovakia - Factors To Watch on June 12

                                
 BRATISLAVA, June 12 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Thursday.
                                
 
                                
 EC'S KROES IN SLOVAKIA
                                
 EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes will visit
Slovakia. Kroes will address an economic conference and hold a
news conference.
                                
 
                                
 EU LEADERS TO ENDORSE SLOVAKIA EURO BID - DRAFT
                                
 European Union leaders will endorse next week Slovakia's bid
to adopt the euro at the start of 2009, draft conclusions of the
leaders' summit showed.
                                
 [ID:nL11788059] [RTRS-EUR-FRX-ECB-SK]
                                
 
                                
 2008 GDP GROWTH MAY BE ABOVE FORECAST -PM
                                
 Slovakia's economic growth could be higher this year than
the government forecast of 7.5 percent, after a red-hot
expansion in the first quarter, Prime Minister Robert Fico said
on Wednesday.
                                
 [ID:nL11188440] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-ECI-MMT-SK]
                                
 
                                
 TRADE BALANCE WORSENS, CPI HITS 20-MO HIGH
                                
 Slovakia's April foreign trade deficit deteriorated sharply,
data showed on Wednesday and May headline inflation hit a
20-month high, driven by food and fuel prices, although analysts
expect a slowdown by the year-end.
                                
 [ID:nL11616195] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-TRD-FRX-SK]
                                
 [ID:nL11489053] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]
                                
 [ID:nL11212847] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]
                                
 
                                
 GOVT APPROVES BOOST FOR AFGHANISTAN FORCE
                                
 The Slovak government on Wednesday approved a plan to more
than double the central European country's military presence in
Afghanistan, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
                                
 [ID:nL11913115] [RTRS-DIP-POL-DEF-SK]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------ 
                                
 WELFARE STATE
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced a "return" to the
welfare state after a period of constraint. Fico said welfare
measures would be financed by savings in the state budget and
more effective public procurement. Analysts said Fico was only
maneuvering to attract voters.
                                
 Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 INTEREST RATES CEILING
                                
 The government approved a measure setting the ceiling for
interest rates on consumer loans from 200 to 20,000 euros. The
borrowing cost limit was set at an annual 112 percent, and the
move is aimed at eliminating loan sharks.
                                
 Pravda, 18
                                
 
                                
 EU CANNOT STOP MOCHOVCE
                                
 The European Union cannot stop completion of the nuclear
power plant Mochovce as indicated by Prime Minister Robert Fico,
the opposition says. The EU will issue its statement on Mochovce
in around two months, but it will not be binding for Slovakia.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 STRONG CROWN HURTS
                                
 The Slovak subsidiary of Germany's leather maker Tatra-Leder
is looking for a capital partner to revive production stalled by
losses from appreciating crown. The company is not planning to
lay off its 70 employees in the northern town of Liptovsky
Mikulas yet.
                                
 Sme, page 6
                                
 
                                
 SMER LEADS IN POLLS
                                
 The Smer party of Prime Minister Robert Fico led a May-June
opinion poll by the private MVK agency, taking 38.5 percent
support. The SDKU party of former Prime Minister Mikulas
Dzurinda finished second with 12.3 percent popularity.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 4
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy
                                
 
                                
 News editor of the day: Peter Laca, +421 2 5341 8402; fax
`+421 2 5341 8403
                                
 E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk
                                
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