CBI factory figures to show rebound during strong April – London Report
THE CONFEDERATION of British Industry (CBI) is expected to release relatively healthy factory activity data today.
The CBI’s total orders balance is predicted to have rebounded in April, after dipping to a five-month low of zero per cent in March, as a result of a substantial drop in export orders.
Separate manufacturing data from purchasing managers, due out on Friday, is forecast to show similar positive trends.
Tomorrow sees the preliminary estimate of GDP growth in the first quarter of 2015. GDP is expected to have moderated to 0.5 per cent growth quarter-on-quarter. However, IHS Global Insight’s Howard Archer warned “there is a very real risk that it could have slowed even further to 0.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter”.
In the corporate calendar EE and Dillistone Group will update the market today, while BP, Infrastrata and Whitbread have reports due tomorrow.
Barclays, Petropavlovsk and Spirit Pub Company are reporting on Wednesday, while Thursday sees Lancashire Holdings, Saga and Shire releasing figures. Meanwhile, Lloyds Banking Group will update investors on Friday.