Slovakia - Factors To Watch on July 2

                                
 BRATISLAVA, July 2 (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.
                                
 
                                
 PARLIAMENT SESSION
                                
 The parliament will continue in its regular monthly session.
                                
 
                                
 PM SAYS CROWN/EURO RATE AT PEG WOULD BE SUCCESS
                                
 Slovakia will be well served if the exchange rate for 2009
euro adoption equalled the current crown peg to the single
currency and is trying to avoid a weaker level, Prime Minister
Robert Fico said on Tuesday.
                                
 [ID:nL011721] [SK-EUR-FRX-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 GOVT TO EXPAND WELFARE, CUT FISCAL GAP IN 2009
                                
 Slovakia's ruling coalition parties agreed on Tuesday to
boost welfare spending through a package of measures next year,
but the plan should not endanger fiscal deficit reduction, Prime
Minister Robert Fico said.
                                
 [ID:nL0179900] [SK-POL-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAK REVENUE BOOM NARROWS JAN-JUNE BUDGET GAP
                                
 The Slovak state budget narrowed sharply in the first half
of 2008, on an annual basis, as the booming economy continued to
generate strong revenues ahead of euro adoption next year, data
showed on Tuesday.
                                
 [ID:nL01648563] [SK-GVD-DBT-PLCY]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 WELFARE PLAN MAY BOOST INFLATION RISKS
                                
 The planned welfare spending through a package of measures
will not be a major burden for the state budget, but it could
increase inflation risks after Slovakia adopts the euro,
analysts said.
                                
 Sme, page 2
                                
 SLOVGLASS BLAMES CROWN FOR BANKRUPTCY
                                
 Slovak glass products maker Slovglass has entered bankruptcy
procedures, blaiming sharp crown appreciation and rising prices
of commodities for its large losses. Slovglass had exported
around 90 percent of its production, mainly to the United
States.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 REAL ESTATE BOOM EXPANDS
                                
 Rising demand is pushing real estate prices sharply up in
less developed areas or small towns of Slovakia, while prices of
apartments and houses have mostly stabilised in the largest
cities and towns.
                                
 Pravda, page 6
                                
 
                                
 PENSION FUNDS OUTLOW
                                
 The outflow of around 90,000 people from the private pension
system will reduce the amount of money under pension funds
management by some 3.3 billion crowns. Prime Minister Fico said
the outflow was roughly in line with government forecasts,
although he would have liked to see a bigger number.
                                
 HOSPODARSKE NOVINY, page 1
                                
 
                                
 TOLL SYSTEM TENDER
                                
 The disputed 20 billion crown tender for a new road toll
system has yet to get a winner after three bidders had appealed
against the decision to exclude them from the process. The
Supreme Control Office will say this week whether the excluded
bidders are allowed to return to the tender.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 2
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy
                                
 
                                
 News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +420 224 190 477; fax:
+420 224 229 935
                                
 E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk,
martin.santa@thomsonreuters.com
                                
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:
                                
 Warsaw WIG20 <.WIG20>  Budapest BUX <.BUX>  Prague PX50
<.PX50>
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