THIS WEEK

Business diary for the week starting October 31st

After a tense week dominated by the EU leaders’ summit, the focus now shifts to monetary policy, with the ECB due to announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday.

While euro zone interest rates are likely to remain on hold, the post-meeting press conference will be closely watched as it marks the first key engagement for the central bank’s incoming president Mario Draghi.

Meanwhile Ireland’s public finances will come under the spotlight with exchequer returns up to the end of October due to be published.

MONDAY, October 31st (Bank Holiday)

Indicators:

EU-17 Flash HICP (Oct) and Unemployment (Sep); US Chicago PMI (Oct); UK Hometrack House Prices (Oct)and Mortgage Approvals (Sep)

Other:

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s eight-year term expires; OECD to publish Pre-G20 Summit Economic Briefing

TUESDAY, November 1st

Results:

Pfizer; Sanmina-SCI

Meeting:

US Federal Reserve’s FOMC holds meeting on interest rates (to Wed); Chairman of the German Social Democratic Party Sigmar Gabriel to speak at the Institute of International and European Affairs

Indicators:

US Construction Spending (Sep), ISM Manufacturing (Oct) and Vehicle Sales (Oct); UK Nationwide House Prices (Oct), CIPS Manufacturing PMI (Oct) and Prelim GDP (Q3); OECD Consumer Price Indices

Other:

Mario Draghi assumes ECB Presidency

WEDNESDAY, November 2nd

Results:

AOL; Becton Dickinson

Meeting:

World Pension Summit (to Fri)

Indicators:

EU-17 Markit Manufacturing PMI (Oct); Irish Exchequer Balance (Oct), Manufacturing PMI (Oct) and KBC Ireland/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index; US ADP Employment (Oct); German Unemployment (Oct)

Other:

Kerry Group interim management statement

THURSDAY, November 3rd

Results:

Geberit; LinkedIn; Tate & Lyle

Meeting:

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to give speech at Institute of European and International Affairs; Appys Awards 2011 (Mansion House); Social CRM And Cloud Computing Information Session (Davenport Hotel, D2); TravelHuddle Conference (Guinness Storehouse); G20 Summit (to Fri)

Indicators:

Irish Live Register (Oct); US Initial Jobless Claims (w/e Oct 29th), Productivity (Q3), Factory Orders (Sep) and ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Oct); UK CIPS Services PMI (Oct)

Other:

ECB interest rate announcement; HeidelbergCement interim management statement

FRIDAY, November 4th

Results:

IAG; Lafarge

Meeting:

Aer Lingus egm (Radisson Hotel, Dublin Airport); SFA Annual Lunch 2011 (Burlington Hotel); Conference On Regional Growth Through Innovation (NUI Galway)

Indicators:

EU-17 Markit Services PMI (Oct) and PPI (Sep); US Non-Farm Payrolls (Oct); German Industrial Orders (Sep)

Other:

ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark speaks at Credit Policy Day 2011 (Frankfurt)