Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 5

                                
 BRATISLAVA, May 5 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Tuesday.
                                
 
                                
 FICO ON CO2 DEAL
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico will hold an extraordinary news
conference on the disputed sale of Slovakia's carbon emission
allowances.
                                
 
                                
 CRISIS CONFERENCE
                                
 The main opposition factions will organise a conference on
measures against the economic crisis, 0800 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 EU COMMISSION ISSUES NEW GROWTH FORECASTS
                                
 The European Commission published on Monday the following
forecasts for growth in the 16-nation euro zone and 27-nation
European Union. Its previous forecasts were made in autumn 2008.
                                
 [ID:nBRQ007309] [RTRS-EU-ECI-MCE-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 EU RELEASES NEW FORECASTS ON BUDGET POSITIONS
                                
 The European Commission on Monday published the following
forecasts for budget positions in the 16-nation euro zone and
27-nation European Union. Its previous forecasts were made in
autumn 2008.
                                
 [ID:nBRQ007313] [RTRS-EU-ECI-MCE-GVD-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 STATE BUDGET GAP WIDENS AS ECONOMY BRAKES
                                
 Slovakia's central state budget gap swelled to 347.4 million
euros ($462 million) in the first four months of the year, data
showed on Monday, confirming a deteriorating fiscal position as
economic slowdown curbs state revenues.
                                
 [ID:nL4472600] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-POL-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKIA SELLS 259 MLN EURO WORTH OF 161-DAY T-BILLS
                                
 Slovakia sold 259 million euros ($344 million) of 161-day
treasury bills at auction on Monday, the finance ministry's Debt
and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) said.
                                
 [ID:nWLA3251] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-ISU-LEN-SK]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 CARBON EMISSIONS DEAL
                                
 Environment Minister Jan Chrbet has scrapped a contract with
privately-held company Interblue Group under which Slovakia sold
10 millions of tonnes of its carbon emissions allowances for 60
million euros. Opposition and media have criticised the
contract, saying the state lost millions of euros in the deal.
                                
 Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 FICO SLAMS PRIVATE PENSION SYSTEM
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico has again criticised private
pension funds. Fico added his cabinet was ready to alter the
system to curb fees charged by the pension funds, but he did not
comment on possible parametric changes to the scheme.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 BIGGEST COMPANIES
                                
 The Slovak factory of Germany's car group Volkwagen
<VOWG.DE> is expected to remain Slovakia's biggest company by
revenues this year, a survey conducted by the business daily
Hospodarske Noviny showed. The operation of Samsung Electronics
is expected to be the second biggest.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 13
                                
 
                                
 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 [SK/DIARY], and a
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY].
                                
 News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 5341 8402 fax:
+421 5341 8403
                                
 E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk, peter.laca@thomsonreuters.com
                                
 Reuters Messaging: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net
                                
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:
                                
 Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX50
<.PX50>
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