Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 17

                                
 BRATISLAVA, March 17 (Reuters) - Here are news stories,
press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak
financial markets on Monday.
                                
 
                                
 EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION
                                
 The largest employers association, RUZ, will hold a news
conference, 0900 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 FINMIN AIMS TO CUT FISCAL GAPS IN EURO PLAN
                                
 The Slovak Finance Ministry has proposed to cut fiscal
deficits this year and next to show firm commitment to the
country's plan to adopt the euro in 2009, a ministry document
said on Friday.
                                
 [ID:nL14768955] [RTRS-GVD-DBT-EUR-SK]
                                
 
                                
 INFLATION UP, BUT EURO ENTRY TEST SEEN SAFE
                                
 The Slovak inflation rate rose more than expected in
February, data showed on Friday, but analysts said price growth
should remain well under the limit for planned adoption of the
euro in 2009.
                                
 [ID:nL14748010] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-PLCY-SK]
                                
 [ID:nL141755]   [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SL]
                                
 
                                
 C.BANK SAYS FEB INFLATION ABOVE FORECAST
                                
 Slovakia's EU-norm inflation was slightly above the central
bank's (NBS) forecasts in February, mainly because prices of
food and services rose a touch faster than expected, the bank
said on Friday.
                                
 [ID:nBSD000050] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-CEN-SK]
                                
 
                                
 SLOVAKIA SAYS TO SIGN U.S. VISA DEAL MONDAY
                                
 Slovakia will sign an agreement with the United States that
will lead to visa-free travel, Interior Minister Robert Kalinak
said on Friday.
                                
 [ID:nL14927672] [RTRS-POL-EU-DIP-SK]
                                
 
                                
 C.BANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $19.7 BLN
                                
 The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves
edged up to $19.689 billion as of March 12 from $19.505 billion
a week ago, the bank said on Friday.
                                
 [ID:nL14785126] [RTRS-CEN-FRX-SK]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 LISBON TREATY
                                
 The parliament could postpone the vote on the European Union
reform treaty until April or May as the ruling coalition fears
the opposition could continue obstructing the vote again in
March.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 HIGHER GAS PRICES
                                
 Gas prices are likely to rise in the future, the Slovak gas
monopoly Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP) said. SPP,
managed by Ruhrgas <EONG.DE> and Gaz de France <GAZ.PA>, said
prices will go up as the key supplier Gazprom's <GAZP.MM>
demands for higher prices.
                                
 Pravda, page 1
                                
 
                                
 VAT ON FOOD
                                
 A junior government party, HZDS, wants to lower the value
added tax (VAT) on food to six percent from the current 19
percent to offset the impact of euro adoption.
  Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 SLOVNAFT POWER PLANT
                                
 Czech utility CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> and Slovnaft <SNFT.BV>, the
Slovak unit of Hungary's MOL <MOLB.BU>, said construction of new
power plant should start in 2010 and the power station should be
launched in 2013.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 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 2 5341 8402; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403
                                
 E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk