THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT
COMPANY NEWS
● Petrofac posts its interim results today. With oil prices dropping from their recent highs coupled with a market slump, oil companies have taken a bit of a knock of late, with their interim reports reflecting this downturn. Petrofac will be hoping that its results buck this trend.
● Another energy industry player, Wood Group, will release interim results tomorrow. Having picked up some big contracts within the oil market recently – notably with Chevron Corporation and Royal Dutch Shell – it may outperfom analyst expectations.
● Diageo will be hoping for doubles all round on Thursday when the drinks company releases its interim results. It has increased the number of its in-house brands and has sought further trade ties with China.
● On Wednesday, mining company BHP Billiton will release its preliminary results. Given its diversified portfolio, analysts predict its preliminary results will strike gold.
● Another mining company, Kazakhmys, will be hoping to hit a rich seam of profits when it releases its interim report on Thursday. Kazakhmys has not had the same level of diversification as other mining companies, but has started to make steps in the right direction.
● Shires favourite, AGA Rangemaster, will release its interim report on Friday. Along with the majority of the consumer related sector, the company has taken a bit of a knock, but with strong overseas sales, the company will be hoping for piping hot results.
ECONOMICS NEWS
● Today, the ONS will release its focus on consumer prices for July. Figure will include CPI, RPI.
● Tomorrow, the CBI will release its monthly industrial trends survey. Last month the CBI Distributive Trade survey headline index fell to minus 5, its lowest point since June 2010,
● Thursday will see the release of statistics on the number of non-UK nationals registering for a National Insurance number for the purpose of work.
● Friday will see another major health report on the UK economy, when the ONS releases its second estimate of GDP for the second quarter. The first estimate was that the UK economy had expanded by a meagre 0.2 per cent. If the second estimate comes in below this, reach for your tin hats.
POLITICAL NEWS
● On Wednesday, the Treasury committee will publish its report on the future of cheques. The report will anounce whether the plans to abolish the method of payment in the UK will clear or whether they will bounce.
● On Wednesday, the Department of Education will release second quarter NEET figures for the number of young people not in employment, education or training. The report includes the Labour Force Survey for 16- to 18-year-olds and 16- to 24-year-olds.
● Friday will see the release of GCSE reults for pupils in England and Wales. Scurrilous rumours that Ed Miliband is awaiting the results of his third mathematics resit have thus far been denied by Labour Party spinners.
● MPs are still on their holidays