Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 4

                                
 BRATISLAVA, March 4 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Tuesday.
                                
 
                                
 GDP DATA
                                
 The Statistics Office will publish detailed data of 2007
gross domestic product (GDP) and forecasts of GDP and inflation
for the first half of 2008, 0800 GMT
                                
 
                                
 PM ON EURO ADOPTION
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico and central bank Governor Ivan
Sramko will address Bratislava university students on euro
adoption process, 0900 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 S&P SAYS RAISES SLOVAKIA OUTLOOK ON EURO PLANS
                                
 Standard & Poor's on Monday revised its outlook on the
Slovak Republic to positive from stable on expectations the
country will join the euro zone in 2009, after executing a
relatively constrained budget in 2007.
                                
 [ID:nL03683851] [RTRS-AAA-GVD-DBT-SK]
                                
 
                                
 CROWN HITS RECORD HIGH ON S&P OUTLOOK
                                
 The Slovak crown firmed to a record high against the euro
late on Monday, after rating agency Standard&Poor's revised its
outlook on Slovakia's 'A' sovereign rating to positive from
stable.
                                
 [ID:nL03829813] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]
                                
 
                                
 BUDGET IN SURPLUS, FAVOURABLE TREND SEEN
                                
 The Slovak state budget was in surplus in January-February
partly thanks to one-off revenues, but the market expected the
favourable fiscal trend to continue ahead of euro adoption in
2009.
                                
 [ID:nL0397483]  [RTRS-GVD-DBT-SK]
                                
 [ID:nL03538717] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-SK]
                                
 
                                
 BRATISLAVA REFINERY PLANS Q2 MAINTENANCE
                                
 The 115,000 barrel a day Bratislava refinery in Slovakia
will carry out maintenance in the second quarter on its crude
distillation and other units, the refinery's owner Slovnaft
<SNFT.BV> said on Monday.
                                
 [ID:nL03827505] [RTRS-PROD-CRU-HOIL-ENR-SK]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST:
                                
 ------------
                                
 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
                                
 The HZDS party of former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar has
yet to officially decide whether it will put forward its own
candidate for 2009 presidential election. Some HZDS officials
said they would not endorse current President Ivan Gasparovic,
who is supported by Prime Minister Robert Fico.
                                
 Sme, page 3
                                
 
                                
 WHEAT PRICES
                                
 Rising wheat prices have not yet caused dramatic increase in
the cost of bakery items, but future price trend will depend on
this year's harvest.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 LAND ROW
                                
 The ruling coalition row between HZDS and Fico's Smer party
over management of state land continues as HZDS attacks the head
of the land supervisory agency. The row threatened coalition
stability last year and lead to dismissal of HZDS' agriculture
minister.
                                
 Pravda, page 4
                                
 
                                
 CROWN HURT EXPORTERS
                                
 Firming crown has been cutting revenues of exporters who has
not hedged against appreciation. 
                                
 Pravda, page 18
                                
 
                                
 KIA PLANS
                                
 The Slovak factory of Kia Motors plans to produce 225,000
cars this year, worth more than 2.6 billion euros in 2008.
                                
 Pravda, page 19
                                
 
                                
 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 [SK/DIARY], and a
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY].
                                
 News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 905 602 847; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403
                                
 E-mail: Editorial@reuters.sk
                                
 Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net
                                
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