BRATISLAVA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Wednesday.
GOVERNMENT MEETING
The government will hold a regular weekly meeting. Ministers
are scheduled to debate progress in highway construction
projects to be financed through the public-private partnership
scheme, 0900 GMT.
SLOVAKIA SEES DOWNSIDE RISK TO 2009 GDP FORECAST
The Slovak government's forecast of 2.4 percent economic
growth for 2009 is subject to downside risks stemming from
uncertain outlook on major markets, the finance ministry's chief
economist said on Tuesday.
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SLOVAK GOVT BOOSTS CONTROL OVER GAS RESERVES
Slovak lawmakers approved legal changes on Tuesday giving
the state tighter control over gas reserves as the country seeks
to prevent a repeat of the supply crisis that hurt its economy
at the start of this year.
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PRESS DIGEST
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT DOWN
Investment into business, retail and logistics real estate
projects in Slovakia fell by some 60 percent to 119 million euro
in 2008, Cushman & Wakefield, a consultancy, said.
Sme, page 7
FUEL PRICES
Prices of petrol fuels will rise by 0.02 euro ($0.025) per
litre to an average price of 1.01 euro per litre.
Sme, page 7
SMER KEEPS LEAD IN POOL
Popularity of Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer party
declined by 2.5 percentage points in February, but it kept a
large lead over the second-placed opposition SDKU party, an
opinion poll showed. Smer had support of 46 percent in the poll,
while SDKU finished with 12.9 percent.
Sme, page 2
MORE CRISIS MEASURES
Slovak lawmakers approved on Tuesday a hike in the
non-taxable income as part of the government's measures to
stimulate the economy. The move will boost net income for some
1.5 million Slovaks by several euros. Slovak with the lowest
income will get a benefit worth some 15.06 euro a month.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
Prices of residential properties in Slovakia rose by 6.4
percent in the fourth quarter, putting the full-2008 annual
growth at 22.1 percent.
Pravda, page 36
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 [], and a
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [].
News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax:
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E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk
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