BRATISLAVA, April 9 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Wednesday.
MEDIA BILL
Parliament will continue the second reading of the draft media law, 0700 GMT.
GOVERNMENT MEETING
The government will hold its regular weekly meeting, 0800 GMT. The cabinet is expected to resume a debate on the plan to cut the 2008 fiscal deficit.
RETAIL SALES
The Statistics Office will publish February retail sales data. (0700 GMT). Analysts forecast retail sales to have risen by 9.3 percent in February.
REAL INDUSTRIAL WAGE
The Statistics Office will publish February average industrial wages data. (0700 GMT)
SLOVAK PARTY SUGGESTS EU REFERENDUM IF MPS FAIL
Slovakia's Smer party, which rules in coalition, may seek a referendum on the European Union reform treaty if parliament rejects the document, a senior member was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
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CAR SECTOR EYES WAGE GROWTH ABOVE INFLATION
Wage growth in Slovakia's key automotive industry will accelerate and surpass inflation due to a tightening labour market, the industry's umbrella organisation said on Tuesday.
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FEB INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT BEATS FCAST
Slovak industrial output rose by a real 11.5 percent year-on-year in February, accelerating from revised annual growth 8.5 percent increase in January, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Tuesday.
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FEB CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT +13.5 PCT Y/Y
Slovak construction output rose by a real 13.5 percent year-on-year in February after a 14.1 percent annual rise in January, the Statistics Office said on Tuesday.
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PRESS DIGEST
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LISBON TREATY
Several deputies for the ethnic Hungarian SMK party have signalled they might support the Lisbon Treaty in a parliamentary vote. Opposition, which mostly supports the EU treaty, has been blocking the ratification of the document to push the government to change a media draft.
Sme, page 2
PRIVATISATION DEALS
Power distributors ZSE and VSE, managed by E.ON Energie <EONG.DE> and RWE Energy <RWEG.DE>, respectively, have agreed to publish privatisation documents as requested by the European Commission, the Slovak Economy Ministry said.
Sme, page 6
MAIZE PRICES
Slovakia's maize prices rose by 51.2 percent on the year in 2007, to 5,476 crowns ($266.5) per tonne, from 3,620 crowns in 2006.
Sme, page 6
BANK FEES
The finance ministry and the central bank (NBS) will monitor development of banks' service fees before and after the planned euro adoption to prevent excessive or unjustified hikes.
Pravda, page 17
MOCHOVCE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Czech Skoda JS is interested in participating in completion of the third and fourth blocks at the Mochovce nuclear power plant. The consortium includes Russian Atomstroiexport, and Slovak Enseco VUJE and Kosice Engineering Constructions.
Sme, page 6
HIGHWAY TENDER
A consortium led by Germany's Hochtief <HOTG.DE> has withdrawn its objection submitted to the Slovak Public Procurement Office. The Transport Ministry has excluded the group from a highway tender.
Pravda, page 17
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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