SLOVAKIA: $1.7 Billion Usd Bond Sale Strong And Oversubscribed ...At Lower Cost Than Italy.

BLOOMBERG/

   Slovakia has raised $1.25 billion euros($1.7 billion usd) in a bond sale at a lower cost than higher rated Italy.
   The sale was almost twice oversubscribed.
   The market approves of the nation's deficit reduction plans as PM Iveta Radicova (pictured)works to lower the budget deficit to 4.9 percent GDP this year from an estimated 7.8 percent in 2010.
   An analyst said “It shows that concern over the fiscal situation in the euro zone’s peripheral countries isn’t spilling over and reflects Slovakia’s strong fundamental situation and government’s efforts to reduce the budget deficit and debt.”

SLOVAKIA: PM Radicova Still Resists EU Bailout Fund.

BLOOMBERG/ Radoslav Tomek /

    PM Iveta Radicova still says pouring more cash into a EU bailout fund “isn’t an option” to solve the debt crisis and alternatives must be sought to restore euro confidence.
    Slovakia is the only EU member that refused aid for Greece. It also opposes increasing the fund unless bond investors are forced to take "haircuts" on the debt issued by distressed countries earlier than 2013.

SLOVAKIA: PM Radicova Denies Emergency Plan For Dumping Euro.

BLOOMBERG/
   Premier Iveta Radicova (pictured) has stated that Slovakia never considered dropping the euro.
    She calls talk about a return to national currencies "extremely risky" and destabilizing. She said that government "hasn’t for one second" considered switching back to the Slovak koruna.,
   Yesterday, Parliament Speaker Richard Sulik caused a minor stir when he said Slovakia needed a "Plan B" in case Europe’s debt crisis spreads further.

SLOVAKIA: New PM Radicova Balks At EU Greek Bailout.

BLOOM/       Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said she doesn't support a contribution to the EU aid package for Greece. “We really do not agree,” she said. Radicova also has not signed off on the European Financial Stability Facility which sells debt backed by 440 billion euros in national guarantees and allows the proceeds to be lent to nations in need.

SLOVAKIA: Radicova May Become First Female PM.

BLOOMBRG/     President Ivan Gasparovic has asked Iveta Radicova to become Slovakia’s first female prime minister to create a four-party government that restores fiscal prudence and reduces corruption. Outgoing PM Robert Fico, whose Smer party won the most votes, had until today to try to form a government but he failed to find any coalition partners.