An Post's annual report, to be published on Wednesday, is likely to reveal substantial losses in the State company's post office division. The future of that troubled business is the subject of a Government examination.
Of greater interest, however, may be An Post's performance in the profitable elements of its business. Its chief executive Mr John Hynes has said profits margins of 2 per cent in 1999 were completely inadequate, stating that a rise to 7 per cent or 8 per cent was required as an "absolute minimum".
Markets look to US for action: US retail sales figures due out on Friday will grab the attention of financial markets during an otherwise quiet week of data. A handful of euro zone numbers are also due out, including German industrial output today and French inflation figures on Thursday. But activity across the Atlantic will be the focus for the week.
Elsewhere, the City will be on tenterhooks for any further profit warnings following telecoms equipment maker Marconi's dramatic announcement on Friday. Marconi is one of the UK's largest and oldest companies.
Investors will be eyeing Inter Link Foods today when it publishes year-end results. This year it bought three cake makers, and investors will no doubt be interested to hear an update on their integration. Last year Inter Link reported pre-tax profits of £1.1 million - analysts will be looking for a figure around the £1.7 million mark this year.
Electrical components group Pace Micro Technology could offer a glimmer of hope for tech watchers today when it publishes year-end figures. The group announced earlier this year it was outsourcing the remainder of its manufacturing - at a cost of 470 jobs - and said its figures was on track to hit market expectations. Analysts are predicting pre-tax profits of £39 million, an increase on last year's figure of £23.9 million.
MONDAY
Results: Artisan UK; Inter Link Food; Pace Micro Technology; Rexonline
A.G.M.: Alstom, PNC Tele.com; Tepnel Life Sciences (e.g.m.)
Meetings: Second annual e-Learning Europe Conference in Burlington Hotel
Indicators: Balance of International Payments (Q1); Industrial production figures (Germany)
Others: New incubation centre opens in South East Business Centre, Waterford; Launch of SETT, SkillNet in IDA Industrial Park, Waterford
TUESDAY
Results: Northgate Info Services; Low & Bonar (H1)
A.G.M.: Albany Investment Trust; Business Post Group; Chloride Group; El Oro Mining; Exploration Co; Land Securities; Liontrust Asset Management, Media Content (e.g.m.)
Others: UN Development Programme launches report for 2001 in London School of Economics; First Tuesday in Dublin's Westbury Hotel on How to Raise Capital in Today's Climate
WEDNESDAY
Results: QA (H1)
A.G.M.: An Post; Man Group; Marks & Spen- cer; Integrated Asset Man (e.g.m.); Ultraframe (e.g.m.)
Others: OECD forum for the Future conference opens in Luxembourg; Enterprise Ireland presents its annual report 2000
THURSDAY
Results: Jurys Doyle Hotel; Stanley Leisure
A.G.M.: Cadcentre; Edinburgh High Inc Tst; Penna Cons; Robert Wiseman Dairies; Christian Slavesen; KS Biomedix Hldgs (e.g.m.)
Meetings: 3i holds news briefing on strategy to mark opening of Dublin office
Indicators: Industrial production index (early est) (May); French consumer price index (prelim)
FRIDAY
A.G.M.: Walker Crips Weddle; Sanctuary Group (e.g.m.); Navan Mining
Indicators: Consumer Price Index (June)
Others: Spanish Embassy hosts seminar on investment opportunities in Murcia
