Slovakia - Factors To Watch on April 29

                                
 BRATISLAVA, April 29 (Reuters) - Here are news stories,
press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak
financial markets on Friday.
                                
 
                                
 ECONMIN ON DISCUSSION FORUM
                                
 Economy Minister Juraj Miskov, head of government's agency
for foreign investments (SARIO) will address an economic
conference on new foreign investments in Slovakia, 0800 GMT
                                
 
                                
 UNIONS TO STAGE PROTEST
                                
 Unions are expected to stage a protest, in the eastern
Slovak town of Kosice, against amended labour code approved by
the government on Thursday, 1345 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKIA SLAMS DEUTSCHE TELEKOM OVER DIVIDENDS
Slovakia's Economy Minister accused Deutsche Telekom <DTEGn.DE>
on Thursday of "abusing" its dominant ownership position in
Slovak Telekom (ST) by declining to pay a dividend.
                                
 [ID:nLDE73R1F8] related news [RTRS-DE-EU-CEEU-WEU--EMRG-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAK FINMIN BACKS DRAGHI FOR ECB POST 
                                
 Slovakia's finance minister is backing Bank of Italy
Governor Mario Draghi as a contender to replace Jean-Claude
Trichet at the helm of the European Central Bank, the minister
said on Thursday.
                                
 [ID:nPRG004914] related news [RTRS-EZC-PTG-IT-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 DRAGHI EDGES CLOSER TO ECB JOB, BACKED BY JUNCKER
                                
 The chairman of euro zone finance ministers added his
support to Mario Draghi's candidacy to head the European Central
Bank on Thursday, taking the Italian a step closer to replacing
France's Jean-Claude Trichet.
                                
 [ID:nLDE73R2FE] related news [RTRS-EZC-ECB-IT-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 ICE HOCKEY-TWO-HEADED TORTOISE TAKES ON TIPSTER ROLE
                                
 Following in the 'footsteps' of Paul the oracle octopus, a
rare two-headed tortoise has embarked on a new career in
predicting results at the upcoming ice hockey World Championship
in Slovakia.
                                
 [ID:nLDE73R0KA] related news [RTRS-ICEH-SPO-NHL-ODD-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 ICE HOCKEY-SLOVAKIA SETS TABLE FOR WORLD FEAST
Slovakia has been gripped by ice hockey fever as it prepares to
stage the world championships and not even the shadow of the NHL
playoffs or the sorry state of the sport locally has dampened
enthusiasm.
                                
 [ID:nLDE73Q0HI] related news [RTRS-ICEH-SPO-NHL-LEN]
                                
 
======================== ECONOMIC DATA ========================
  Real-time economic data releases....................<ECONSK>
  Previous stories on Slovak data.............[SK-RTRS-LEN-ECI]
  Overview of economic data and forecasts.......... <SK/ECON04>
======================== PRESS DIGEST =========================
                                
 
                                
 UNIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT
                                
 Unions said approved amended labour code breaches a deal
made with Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, adding they will stage
protests and possibly seek fall of the cabinet, Trade Union's
head Miroslav Gazdik said.
                                
 Unions object one-level minimum wage instead of current six
groups, based on level and skill of the workforce.
                                
 Sme, page 6
                                
 
                                
 AMENDED LABOUR CODE
                                
 The cabinet approved an amended labour code, aimed boost
labour market flexibility, but it lacks a clear backing from
employers, unions and even the economy ministry who sought a
more business-friendly adjustments.
                                
 Hopsodarske noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 PRIVATE HEALTH INSURERS' PROFIT
                                
 The government approved a change in law, allowing - again -
that private health insurers will be allowed to pay out their
profits if they create technical reserve and fond in amount of
20 percent from the base capital.
                                
 The previous government of ex-Prime Minister Robert Fico ban
the insurances companies to use their profit in 2008.
                                
 Sme, page 8
                                
 
                                
 News editor of the day: Martin Santa on +421 2 5341 8402;
fax: +421 2 5341 8403
                                
 
                                
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:
Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX50 <.PX50>
                                
 Other related news:
Slovak equities  [SK-E]  E.Europe equities    [.CEE]
Slovak money     [SK-M]  Czech debt           [CZ-D]
Slovak Indicators  [SK-ECI]  Emerging forex   [EMRG/FRX]
Eastern European  [EEU]   All emerging markets [EMRG]
Hot stocks        [HOT]   Stock markets        [STX]
Market debt news  [DBT]   Forex news           [FRX]
TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets     [TOP/EMRG]
TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch    [TOP/EAST]
                                
  
                                
 (Compiled by Martin Santa and Petra Kovacova in Bratislava)