THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT
COMPANIES
● Today, the recently listed Glencore will release its first quarter trading statement to 31 March. On the same day, Majestic Wine and Advanced Computer Software will announce for the year.
● Carphone Warehouse and Oxford Instruments will announce on Tuesday. The latter was the first commercial spin-out company from Oxford University. Investors will be hoping the results show that it is still the don.
● On Thursday, investors will see if Mulberry is still in vogue, as it announces its results. Ashtead – named after the village in Surrey – also releases its full year results on the same day.
ECONOMICS
● Today, the Bank of Japan releases its policy meeting minutes, while on Tuesday it delivers its monetary policy statement and interest rates decision.
● On Tuesday, the UK gives details of nationwide consumer confidence, retail price index, consumer price index and leading indicator index.
● On Wednesday, the US releases its consumer price index, inclusive and exclusive of food and energy. The Swiss National Bank delivers its interest rates decision on Thursday. Currently at 0.25 per cent, due to the high Swiss franc, the bank is expected to delay a move towards the normalisation of monetary policy.
POLITICS
● On Tuesday, the Dutch House of Representatives will pass a new telecommunications act, prohibiting operators from charging for services like Skype.
● Also on Tuesday, EU finance ministers will meet over dinner to discuss strengthening sanctions for the EU’s worst fiscal offenders. It is doubtful they’ll be serving feta.
● On Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy will hold talks with Angela Merkel on the Eurozone crisis. In the words of Adam Smith: “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public.”