Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Oct 3

                                
 BRATISLAVA, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Friday.
                                
 
                                
 RETAIL SALES
                                
 The Statistics Office will publish August retail sales data,
0700 GMT. Analysts in a Reuters poll forecast retail sales to
have risen by 7.4 percent in August.
                                
 
                                
 FOREX RESERVES
                                
 The central bank will publish its weekly foreign currency
reserves data, 1200 GMT.
                                
 
                                
 DEMOCRACY REPORT
                                
 The think-tank Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) will
publish a regular report on the state of democracy in Slovakia.
                                
 
                                
 SEPT INFLATION SEEN EASING ON FOOD PRICES
                                
 Slovakia's annual EU-norm inflation probably eased from
nearly two-year highs in September on smaller rise in food
prices, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday, while energy costs
remained key risk for the future.
                                
 [ID:nL2663629] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK-LEN]
                                
 [ID:nL2279578] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK-LEN]
                                
 
                                
 PRESS DIGEST
                                
 ------------
                                
 SLOVAK-HUNGARIAN TENSIONS
                                
 Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Hungary of provocations
after its Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz summoned Slovakia's
Ambassador to Hungary to seek explanation of moves that
Bupadepst says may have been violation of Hungarian minority
rights in Slovakia.
                                
 Sme, page 1
                                
 
                                
 HEATING PRICES
                                
 Price Minister Robert Fico has banned the state-run
Bratislava heating company from increasing heating prices by 28
percent, despite an earlier approval of the hike by the energy
regulator URSO. Fico said the state would sack its officials in
the company if it went ahead with the price hike.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 PRICE GROWTH
                                
 The Association of Consumers said price growth of selected
goods and services has slowed down. Prices have even dropped in
some cases, the consumers said.
                                
 Sme, page 7
                                
 
                                
 GLOBAL CRISIS IMPACTS
                                
 Some businesses said global financial crisis has forced them
to cut production and investment plans or even cut the number of
employees. Business lobby group Klub 500 said car producers have
cut orders from suppliers by 10 percent.
                                
 Pravda, page 1
                                
 
                                
 PUBLIC SECTOR WAGES
                                
 The government has approved an increase in wages of civil
servants, teachers, policemen and soldiers by up to 7 percent,
from next year.
                                
 Hospodarske Noviny, page 1
                                
 
                                
 Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy
                                
 
                                
 News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403
                                
 E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk,
martin.santa@thomsonreuters.com
                                
 
                                
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