Slovakia to open one or two new bonds in 2019 to meet funding needs

PRAGUE: Slovakia's gross funding needs will reach 4.3 billion euros in 2019 and the country may open one or two new bond lines via syndicated sale or auction, debt agency ARDAL said on Monday.

ARDAL said the new bonds include a 10-20 year bond in the second quarter and another with a short- to medium-term maturity in the spring or autumn. It added the expected maximum amount to be sold via syndicated sale was 2 billion euros.

The Slovak government has set out plans to balance the budget next year, from a deficit of 0.6 percent of gross domestic product expected in 2018.