BRATISLAVA, March 14 (Reuters) - Here are news stories,
press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak
financial markets on Friday.
EU-NORM INFLATION
The Statistics Office will publish February EU-norm
inflation data, 0800 GMT. Analysts forecast EU-norm inflation of
0.2 percent on the month and 3.2 percent on the year.
C.BANK COMMENTS
The central bank will publish comments on EU-norm inflation
data, by 1500 GMT.
FOREX RESERVES
The central bank will publish weekly forex reserves data,
1300 GMT.
SMER COUNCIL
The executive council of Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer
party will meet to debate current political issues, 1600 GMT.
CPI HITS 14-MTH HIGH, BUT EURO PLAN ON TRACK
Slovak inflation accelerated to a 14-month peak in February
on housing and food costs, data showed on Thursday, but analysts
said the country remained on track to meet the inflation test
for euro adoption.
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JAN TRADE BALANCE SHOWS SURPLUS
Slovakia's foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 6.6
billion crowns ($313.4 million) in January compared with a
revised deficit of 11.6 billion crowns in December, the
Statistics Office said on Thursday.
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FOUR GROUPS COMPETE IN $965 MLN SLOVAK TOLL TENDER
Slovakia has received four bids in a tender to build and
operate a new road toll system worth 20 billion crowns ($965
million), the private news agency SITA reported on Thursday.
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PRESS DIGEST
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VISA DEAL
Slovakia should sign a bilateral pact on Monday with the
United States on visa-free travel, daily Pravda cited Interior
Minister Robert Kalianak as saying.
Pravda, page 1
SLOVENSKE ELEKTRARNE PROFIT UP
Profit of Slovenske Elektrarne, the unit of Italy's ENEL
<ENEI.MI>, rose by 150 percent year-on-year in 2007 to 3.6
billion crowns ($173.7 million), from 1.4 billion in 2006. The
company said it had invested 4.8 billion crowns last year.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 12
VAT ON DRUGS
The European Commission sees minimum value added tax (VAT)
on drugs and medical goods at 15 percent. Slovakia lowered its
VAT to 10 percent last year.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
FOOD PRICES
Analysts and Slovak food and agriculture businesses expect
food prices to rise slower this year compared with 2006 growth.
However, they said the summer harvest period could change the
forecasts.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 4
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
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:
+421 2 5341 8403
E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk
