THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT
COMPANIES
● Agrekko will make a trading announcement today. The company has benefited from large temporary energy supply contracts following Japan’s earthquake.
● On Tuesday, First Property, Halma and Creston release earnings. The latter provides marketing insights and communications services.
● On the same day, Whitbread will release its interim management statement. With consumer spending figures through the floor, similar companies have struggled. However Whitbread’s greater diversification of exposures could leave it on firmer ground.
ECONOMICS
● On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet. Following which, chairman Ben Bernanke will deliver his press conference. On the same day, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) releases the minutes of its meetings earlier this month. It will be fascinating to see the voting pattern following the replacement of Andrew Sentance with Ben Broadbent.
● On Friday, the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report will be published. It will include analysis of the current state of the UK and global financial system, potential risks and steps to promote greater stability. Expect the conclusions to be examined closely.
POLITICS
● Tomorrow, the former governor of Utah and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman should confirm his intentions to challenge President Obama to become the most powerful person in the world.
● On Tuesday, Greece’s prime minister is expected to call a vote of confidence asking: Who runs Greece?
● On Friday, leaders of all EU countries will meet to rubber stamp European Commission plans to gain more control of national public finances. It includes the idea of linking wages to productivity. If successful, would this put a good few politicians and bureaucrats on the minimum wage?