Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 4

                                
 BRATISLAVA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Wednesday.
                                
 
                                
 GOVERNMENT MEETING
                                
 Government will hold a regular weekly meeting, 0900 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKS CUT 2009 GROWTH FCAST, STILL LEAD EURO PACK
                                
 Slovakia has cut forecasts of 2009 economic growth as it
prepares to take a hit from the global financial crisis, but the
euro zone newcomer expects to stay the fastest growing economy
in the single currency area.
                                
 [ID:nL3607875] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-POL-SK-LEN]
                                
 SLOVAK C.BANK CUTS 2009 GDP FORECAST TO +2.1 PCT
                                
 [ID:nBSD000157] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-CEN-SK-LEN]
                                
 [ID:nL3502461]  [RTRS-GVD-DBT-CEN-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 SLOVAKS SAY PRICES ROSE AFTER EURO
                                
 Three-fourths of Slovaks say prices of goods and services
rose after the euro adoption, a survey conducted by the AKO
agency in January showed. The official statistics, however,
showed no major jumps in consumer prices.
                                
 Pravda, page 36
                                
 
                                
 KIA CUTS HOURS
                                
 The Slovak plant of car maker Kia Motors <000270.KS> said it
would cut the number of working hours to six from eight in one
shift due to a fall in global demand for cars. 
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 GAS RESERVES
                                
 The parliament will debate later this month a government
proposal designed to create emergency gas reserves for 30 days.
The gas company SPP said such measure would cut its profits by
hundreds of millions of euros.
 Sme, page
                                
 
                                
 HIGHWAY PROJECT
                                
 Slovakia is expected to sign the contract on a 1.5 billion
euro highway project with a consortium of France's Vinci
<SGEF.PA> and Dutch ABN Amro later this month. Under the public
private partnership (PPP) scheme, the consortium will get a
30-year operating licence.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 7
                                
 
                                
 BANK FEES
                                
 The parliament will debate a proposal to abolish bank fees
for accepting note and coin deposits from clients. The central
bank, the bank association and the finance ministry have
criticised the proposal.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports and does not
vouch for their accuracy.
                                
 
                                
 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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