BRATISLAVA, Oct 29 (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 expected to debate highway construction financing through
public-private partnership projects.
PRICE COUNCIL
The government's Price Council, set up to prevent price
hikes before and after euro adoption, will hold a meeting.
SLOVAKS CUT MAIN RATE BEFORE EURO, MORE EASING SEEN
The Slovak central bank cut its main interest rate by 50
basis points on Tuesday, aligning the benchmark borrowing costs
with the euro zone two months before the country joins the
single currency bloc in January.
[] []
SLOVAK JAN-AUG C/A SHOWS SKK 82.6 BLN DEFICIT
Slovakia's current account showed a preliminary deficit of
82.6 billion Slovak crowns ($3.39 billion) from January to
August, compared with 55.98 billion gap in the same period last
year, the central bank said on Tuesday.
[] []
SLOVAK END-JULY FOREIGN DEBT RISES TO $57 BLN
Slovakia's gross foreign debt rose to $56.985 billion at the
end of July, from $56.110 billion at the end of June, the
central bank said on Tuesday.
[] []
PRESS DIGEST
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BUSINESS CONFIDENCE FALLS
Business confidence in Slovakia fell to its lowest level in
15 years as companies fear the impact of the global financial
crisis. Analysts, however, said the Slovak economy has gone
trough tougher times than current situation.
Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
DEXIA LOSS
The Slovak unit of Dexia bank suffered a loss of 82 million
euros because of foreign exchange speculations by one client,
sources said. The loss exceeded the bank's five-year profits.
Banking sources said the client's position was around one
billion euros.
Sme, page 1
US VISA REGIME
The U.S. will cancel tourist visa requirement for Slovaks
from Nov. 17, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said
on Tuesday.
Sme, page 2
CRISIS IMPACT
More companies are reporting the impact of the financial
crisis through lower demand for their products. The affected
firms include the Slovak unit of U.S. Steel and tyre and car
parts maker Matador.
Sme, page 7
LAYOFFS ON THE RISE
Hundreds of people are losing jobs because the global
financial crisis weakens demand for products of Slovak
companies.
Pravda, page 1
BUDGET CUTS
The government will have to cut spending already this year
as the financial crisis hits economic growth and lowers state
budget revenues. Finance Minister Jan Pociatek has admitted the
government may not meet the revised goal of public finance gap
of 2.0 percent of GDP, predicting the deficit at 2.3 percent.
Pravda, page 19
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy
News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403
E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk,
martin.santa@thomsonreuters.com
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