Eircom puts its case

Eircom might have wished for a more fortuitous environment in which to announce its first set of results as a publicly listed company. With the bottom falling out of the telecoms and technology markets and a loyalty bonus overhanging the share price, in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the KPN and Telia stakes in the company, only cursory attention will be paid to the actual figures, which are likely to provide few surprises.

Whether there is much the company can say to assuage the fears of investors and the market in general in a moot point.

Monday

Results: Berisford (H1), Chamberlin & Hill, Countryside Properties (H1), Fine Art Developments, Heals (H1), Kingston Communications, Paragon Group (H1), Robert Wiseman Dairies, Scottish Radio Holdings (H1), J Smart & Co (H1), Treatt (H1).

A.G.M.: Eadie, Macfarlane, Moorfield, UA.

Meetings: Irish Insurance Federation annual lunch (Conrad Hotel, Dublin).

Indicators: British motor vehicle production (Apr).

Others: Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs publishes second report on Economic and Monetary Union; Swedish government will announce the price range for the privatisation of telecom operator Telia.

Tuesday

Results: Abacus Polar (H1), Alsthom, Ambishus Pub Group (H1), British Airways, Coillte, Crompton Greaves, EMI, Imagination Technologies, Irish Dairy Board, Marks & Spencer, Merchant Retail, National Grid, Southnews, South Staffs, Thames Water.

A.G.M.: Dawson, Folkes, Jermyn, Metalrax, VI.

Meetings: Million Dollar Round Table seminar (Citywest Country House).

Indicators: French industrial production (Mar); Japanese trade balance (Apr) and retail sales (Apr).

Others: Dublin's Northside Partnership publishes strategic review; Finals of Young Enterprise Irish Company of the Year awards (Regency Hotel, Dublin to Wed); E-bid bids for Irish business (Jurys Hotel, Cork).

Wednesday

Results: Aer Rianta, Azlan, Bristol Water Holdings, Carlton Communications (H1), Cranswick, Eircom, Fortis (Q1), Kunick (H1), Land Securities, Lufthansa, Merrydown, Redstone Telecom, Richmond Foods (H1), Whitbread (H1).

A.G.M.: Aer Rianta, Arcon, Brooks, City Centre Restaurant, Clinton Cards, Kingfisher, Linden, Hepworth, Robert Lowe, Sherry Fitzgerald, Jef- ferson Smurfit.

Meetings: Cork Institute of Technology/Sheffield Hallam University conference on Public Private Partnerships (Cork to Fri); RDS industry and commerce lunch addressed by Ms Vivienne Jupp, chairwoman of Information Society Commission on e-commerce.

Indicators: Irish GNP (Q3); German producer prices (Apr); Italian trade (Mar/Apr); French consumer prices (Apr); British trade (Mar/Apr).

Others: Microsoft antitrust trial remedies hearing; Meanfiddler.com to float; Tanaiste Ms Harney unveils Allplastx.com, a portal for the European plastics industry.

Thursday

Results: 3i, Airtours (H1), Bass (H1), Business Post, Celsis International, Easyscreen, Galen Holdings (H1), ING (Q1), ISS (Q1), New Look, Premier Farnell (Q1), Reflec, Scapa, Storehouse.

A.G.M.: Arnotts, Chorion, James Finlay, Garton Engineering, Kingspan, International Energy, McInerney Holdings, Meggitt, Rugby Estates, Toye & Co, Wellington Holdings, Willisham.

Meetings: European central bank governing council meets; EU internal market minsters meet (Brussels); Irish Software Association conference (O'Reilly Hall, UCD); Institute of Management Consultants annual dinner (Conrad Hotel, Dublin); Seminar on "The New Economy: where to from here?" (AIB Bankcentre, Dublin).

Indicators: EMU industrial production (Mar); German import/export prices (Apr); French GDP (Q1) and consumer spending (Apr).

Friday

Results: Castings.

A.G.M.: Allied Zurich, Laura Ashley, AstraZeneca, Donatantonio, Henry Boot, Hilton, HSBC, IS, Johnston, MSB International, Portmeirion, Severfield-Rowen.

Indicators: Irish retail sales figures (Apr); British consumer credit (Apr); US personal income/ spending (Apr) and Michigan Sentiment survey (May).