Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Oct 15

...Prime Minister Robrt Fico will address a conference on 
European Union future, 0730 GMT. 
     
    STATE BOND AUCTION 
    The finance ministry's Debt and Liquidity Management Agency 
will auction a five-year, zero-coupon state bonds. 
     
    BUDGET IN PARLIAMENT 
    The government will formally deliver its 2008 state budget 
draft to parliament. 
     
    TRADE GAP WIDENS ON CAR PLANT HOLIDAYS 
    Slovakia's trade balance worsened more than expected in 
August, data showed on Friday, as car manufacturers slowed down 
production due to summer holidays. 
    [ID:nL12505659] [RTRS-TRD-AUT-CARM-SK] 
    [ID:nL12186489] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-TRD-SK] 
     
    CROWN TOUCH SOFTER BUT UPSIDE SEEN 
    The Slovak crown dipped against the euro on Friday, but 
dealers saw further strengthening on the cards in the coming 
days as the outlook for the region is positive. 
    [ID:nL12557219] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    CBANK FOREX RESERVES DIP TO $18.3 
    The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves 
edged down to $18.342 billion as of Oct. 10 from $18.457 billion 
a week ago, the bank said on Friday. 
    [ID:nL1262410] [RTRS-CEN-FRX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    FICO ATTACKS FOOD RETAILERS 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticised the country's food 
retailers for artificial hikes in food prices. Fico said rising 
food cost could fuel inflation and threaten euro adoption. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    MIKLOS SLAMS BUDGET DRAFT 
    The former Finance Minister, Ivan Miklos, has criticised the 
2008 state budget draft for setting improper priorities, such as 
rising agriculture expenditures at the expense of education and 
research. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    For news on upcoming events in the United States and other 
Group of Seven countries, see . 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   Budapest BUX   Prague PX50 
 
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[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]