Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 16

                                
 BRATISLAVA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Monday.
                                
 
                                
 BOND AUCTION
                                
 The finance ministry's Debt and Liquidity Management Agency
(ARDAL) will auction 6-year, floating-coupon state bonds.
                                
 
                                
 CRISIS COUNCIL
                                
 The government's crisis council will meet and debate further
measures against economic crisis.
                                
 
                                
 ECONOMY SLOWS IN Q4, WEAK EXPORTS BLAMED
                                
 Slovakia's economy grew at its slowest pace in seven years
in the last quarter of 2008, data showed on Friday, as global
slump in foreign demand ended the euro zone newcomer's period of
record expansion.
                                
 [ID:nLD86724]  [RTRS-MCE-ECI-PLCY-SK-LEN]
                                
 [ID:nLD535215] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 CENTRAL EUROPE'S ECONOMIES SHRINK, OUTLOOK GRIM
                                
 Hungary entered recession, the Czech and Estonian economies
shrank and Slovak growth slowed sharply last quarter as the
economic crisis slammed into central Europe, dashing any hope
the EU newcomers can escape a severe downturn.
                                
 [ID:nLD1361] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-EMRG-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 FISCAL DEFICIT
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico said the government would start
discussions with Slovakia's EU partners about higher fiscal
deficit if the approved 332 million euro stimulus package is not
enough to tackle the impact of the global financial crisis.
                                
 Sme, page 6
                                
 
                                
 JUSTICE MINISTER SLAMS MOBILE OPERATORS
                                
 Justice Minister Stefan Harabin has criticised mobile phone
operators for their policies under which clients must use the
pre-paid credit during a fixed period of time. Harabin said the
practice violated the right of property.
                                
 Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 FICO ON HEALTH RUMORS
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico has rebuffed media information of
his health problems. Czech and Slovak media reported Fico had
cancelled a trip to Czech Republic on Saturday because of health
troubles.
                                
 Pravda, page 5
                                
 
                                
 CREDIT CARDS
                                
 Use of credit and debit cards in Slovakia rose by 40 percent
on the year in January, following adoption of the euro at the
start of the year. Before, January was traditionally the weakest
month in terms of cards operations.
                                
 Pravda, page 8
                                
 
                                
 TENDER FLAWS
                                
 The Highest Control Office said it found violation of law in
the 119 million euro tender at the Regional Development
Ministry. Media have called for dismissal of the minister
because of the disputed tender.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports and does not
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
                                
 Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.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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