Europe seeks Commission

Whatever agenda may have been put in place for the Berlin summit of EU leaders has been firmly put in the shade by the crisis following the collegial resignation of the 20-body European Commission following a damning report on its inability to address fraud and corruption within its ranks. With a trade row already hindering relations between the EU and the US and several other trade disputes simmering, Europe's political leaders will be hoping for a short-term consensus on manning a Commission at least until after European Parliament elections and preferably until the former Commission was due to end its term at the end of the year.

Independent Newspapers: With results from its South African and New Zealand operations already in, the only surprise in Independent Newspapers' results on Wednesday is likely to be on the upside depending on the performance of advertising in domestic operations. Nonetheless, analysts are preparing for a slippage in pre-tax profits of between 27 and 30 per cent to #89#92.7 million (£70£73 million) from the record figures posted for 1997 when profits jumped 36 per cent.

MONDAY

Results: Alexon Group, Asda Property, FBD Holdings, Flying Flowers, Morgan Crucible, Nestor Healthcare, Newsquest, Roxboro, Schroder Ventures Intl IT (H1), Wescol (H1).

A.G.M.: Aberdeen High Income, Dmatek (e.g.m.), Fyffes, Golden Rose Comms.

Indicators: British GDP (Q4) and current account (Q4).

Others: Young Business Writers Award presented by Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt (Dublin City Business School).

TUESDAY

Results: Allien London Properties (H1), Baynes (Charles), BLP Group, Boosey & Hawkes, Capital Industries, Croda Intl, Dawson Group, Dowding & Mills (H1), EBC Group, Hunting, Iceland, Macfarlane Group, P&O Steam, Scottish Metropolitan Property (H1), Severfield-Reeve, Sherwood International

A.G.M.: Nightfreight (e.g.m.), Updown Investments (e.g.m.).

Meetings: OPEC meeting; Seminar on product development (Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick); CSO seminar on "The New European System of Accounts" (Dublin Castle).

Indicators: EU industrial production (Dec), British retail prices (Feb).

Others: O'Reilly Foundation Scholarship Programme initiated.

WEDNESDAY

Results: Alliance Unichem, Barratt Developments (H1), Brake Bros, City Centre Restaurants, Darby Group, Fishers International, Flextech, Glynwed Intl, Independent Newspapers, Next, Quality Software, Slough Estates, Stanford Rock, Taylor & Francis, Weir, Wolstenholme Rink.

A.G.M.: Allied Textile Co, CW Residential, Irish Continental Group, London Scottish Bank, Mercury World Mining, Schroder Income & Growth (e.g.m.), Soundtracks.

Meetings: EU summit; Ireland-Spain Economic Association networking meeting (Radisson Hotel, Dublin); American Chamber of Commerce business lunch (Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin).

Indicators: US durable goods orders (Feb); German consumer prices (Mar), producer prices (Feb) and M3 money supply (Jan).

THURSDAY

Results: Alvis, ASK Central, Cairngorm Dem Inv Trust (H1), Daniels (S) Group, Informa Group, Kingspan, Lionheart, Norcor, Northern Leisure (H1), Novara, Ottakars, Premier Oil, Scottish Oriental (H1), Silvermines, Singer & Friedlander.

A.G.M.: Beale, Charter Euro Trust (e.g.m.), Crest Nicholson, Colt Telecom (e.g.m.), Minmet.

Meetings: IBEC annual conference (Dublin Castle).

Indicators: EU harmonised consumer prices (Feb); Irish wholesale price index (Feb); US existing home sales (Feb).

Others: Compaq Ireland trade awards (Royal Hospital Kilmainham); Business & Finance Business Awards (Berkelely Court Hotel, Dublin).

FRIDAY

Results: Autologic, Emess, Leicester City (H1).

A.G.M.: Blakes Clothing (e.g.m.), Burmah Castrol (e.g.m.), Clondalkin Group, Downtex, Regina, Ward Holdings, YJ Lovell (e.g.m.).

Meetings: German-Irish Chamber of Commerce business breakfast addressed by Prof Norbert Walter, chief economist of Deutsche Bank (Berkeley Court Hotle, Dublin)

Indicators: Irish industrial production (Dec), retail sales (Jan) and tourism and travel data (Q4); Michigan Sentiment Survey (Mar).