Getting a fix on rates

Markets are waiting for the release of key data in the United States and Europe this week to determine if interest rates in both areas will go higher in November.

Japan is also expected to drop a few hints about its fiscal and monetary policy, which could help shed some light on the future direction of the yen versus the dollar.

Analysts believe the timing of US and euro interest rate moves could come down to two key figures - the employment cost index in the States, due on Thursday, and the September M3 money supply in the euro zone.

Tuesday

Results: Allied Domecq, Atlas Copco (Q3), British American Tobacco (Q3), Compaq Computer (Q3) , Handelsbanken (Q3), HypoVereinsbank (Q3), Lucent Technologies , MeritaNordbanken (Q3), Outokumpu (Q3) , Westbury (H1).

A.G.M.: Baltimore Technologies (e.g.m.) , Fleming Overseas IT, Pacific Horizon IT.

Indicators: Irish industrial stock (Q2) and non-EU trade (Sep); British CBI quarterly industrial trends survey (Oct).

Others: Six leading German economic research institutes present economic report.

Wednesday

Results: Aga (Q3), Amazon.com (Q3), Buhrmann (Q3), Christiania Bank (Q3), .

A.G.M.: Consumers Association of Ireland .

Meetings: Internet World opens; Irish Exporters' Association business breakfast addressed by Ryanair's Michael O'Leary (Kildare St and University Club, Dublin); Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Enterprise; US President Bill Clinton and European Commission president Romano Prodi are due to meet to try to agree the agenda for global trade talks (Washington); Bank of Japan policy board meets.

Indicators: Irish agricultural price indices (Aug); US durable goods (Sep); Italian EU trade (Aug) and non-EU trade (Sep).

Others: SIMI pre-Budget submission.

Thursday

Results: AstraZeneca (Q3), Chloride Group (H1), Dana Petroleum (H1) Ivernia (H1) Marlborough Recrutiment (H1) , MoDo (Q3), Morgan Grenfell Equity, Pharmacia & Upjohn (Q3), Pilkington (H1), SCA (Q3), Tietoenator (Q3), UPM-Kymmene (Q3), WH Smith (H1).

A.G.M.: Beazer Group, McBride, Dowding & Mills, MSW Technology, Sentry Farming Group (e.g.m.), Usher (Frank) Hlds.

Meetings: European Union internal market ministers meet (Brussels).

Indicators: Irish capital assets in industry (Q2); US GDP (Q3), final sales (Q3), GDP deflator (Q3), employment cost index (Q3).

Friday

Results: Aker Maritime (Q3), AngloGold (Q), AssiDoman (Q3).

A.G.M.: Galliford, Linx Printing.

Indicators: EMU trade balance (Jul/Aug) and industrial production (Aug); Irish total external trade (Jul); British M4 data (Sep). ; US Chicago purchasing managers' index (Oct), new home sales (Sep) and Michigan Sentiment survey (Oct).

Others: Seventieth anniversary of the Wall Street Crash.