This week

Business diary for week beginning December 6th

The 2011 Budget will attract plenty of domestic and international attention when it is unveiled tomorrow. While the broad outline of the Budget is already known, with fiscal tightening of €6 billion planned, the exact details of taxation measures and spending cuts for the coming year are awaited with interest.

Meanwhile concerns about euro zone debt levels look set to continue dominating headlines, with markets watching any comments from today’s EU finance ministers’ meeting.

Monday, December 6th

Indicators: EU-16 Finance Ministers Meeting (to 7th) and Sentix Investor Sentiment (Dec); Irish Bord Gais Energy Index (Nov); UK Office for Budget Responsibility Officials before Treasury Committee on Autumn Forecasts

Other: Official opening of Whitegate Power Plant with Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin

Tuesday, December 7th Budget 2011

Indicators: Irish Information Society Statistics Enterprise Statistics (2010) and Vehicles Licensed for the First Time November (2010); US Consumer Credit (Oct); UK Industrial Production (Oct) and NIESR GDP Estimate (3 mths to Nov); German Industrial Orders (Oct)

Other: Trading updates from Bellway, Tesco and Wolseley

Wednesday, December 8th

Meeting: Irish Taxation Institute budget breakfast briefing (Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, D8); NTR and Wolseley agms

Indicators: UK CBI Industrial Orders (Dec); German Total Industrial Production (Oct)

Thursday, December 9th

Indicators: ECB monthly bulletin published; Irish Consumer Price Index (Nov), Quarterly National Household Survey (Q3) and Earnings and Labour Costs (Q3); US Initial Jobless Claims (w/e Dec 4th) and Wholesale Inventories (Oct); UK Trade Balance (Oct) and Bank of England interest rate announcement; German CPI Final (Nov)

Other: Dublin City Enterprise Board will run free mentoring, seminar and networking event 'Your Business Day' (Science Gallery, TCD); Estonia becomes an official member of OECD

Friday, December 10th

Meeting: Associated British Foods agm; EasyJet egm (London Luton Airport)

Indicators: Irish Industrial Production & Turnover (Oct), Output, Input and Income in Agriculture (2010) and QNHS (Q2 2000 - Q2 2010); US International Trade Balance (Oct), Export Prices (Nov), Michigan Sentiment (Dec) and Federal Budget (Nov); UK PPI Input (Nov); French Industrial Production (Oct)