Guinness to boost Diageo

Drinks and retail group Diageo unveils its final results on Thursday with Merrill Lynch expecting profits to come in at £1.8 billion sterling (€2.8 billion) before tax.

Diageo, which owns Guinness and runs the Dunkin' Donuts chain and a host of famous drinks brands, issued a statement in July saying trading was in line with expectations. Its core spirits brands in North America had made some strong progress, but European and South American market conditions have remained difficult. Volumes in Guinness beer sales should also have strengthened, providing a boost to profits.

Monday

Results: Arnotts (H1), Baltimore Technology (H1), Blue Circle (H1), Bovis Homes (H1), City Technology, Hays, Pizza Express, Van de Velde (H1), Whittard of Chelsea.

A.G.M.: Drew Scientific.

Meetings: Merrill Lynch global equity strategy conference (Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin); EU foreign ministers meet (Brussels to Tues); Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders hold final day of meeting (Auckland).

Indicators: EMU GDP (Q2); British producer prices (Aug); US Chicago Federal Index (Jul); Japanese current account (Jul) and trade figures (Jul);

Others: Central bank starts production of euro coins in Ireland; Institute of Taxation booklets published; Forfas publishes details of National Competitive Council report on social partnership; FAS Excellence through People and Training and Employment Agency Investors in People certificates presented to 17 companies by Tanaiste and North's economy minister (Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross).

Tuesday

Results: Danone (H1), Delta (H1), Dorling Kindersley, James Fisher (H1), Furlong Homes (H1), Irish Life & Permanent (H1), Kingfisher (H1), Oakhill (H1), P&O (H1), Peterhouse (H1), Schroder Ventures, Simon Group (H1), Swiss Re (H1), TT (H1).

A.G.M.: Aminex, Goode Durant, IWP International, Misys, Ryanair.

Meetings: ICAI hosts international accounting standards setting meeting; Mr Justice Ronan Keane addresses Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants lunch (Burlington Hotel, Dublin).

Indicators: British retail prices (Aug); US retail sales (Aug), current account (Aug) and Atlanta Federal Index (Aug).

Others: Newly appointed European Commission President Romano Prodi presents the Commission programme to the European Parliament; Financial Services Industry Association annual dinner (Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin); Frankfurt Motor Show (to Sep 26th); Enterprise Awards Evening (Dublin Castle).

Wednesday

Results: AGF (H1), Bentalls (H1), Dixon Motors (H1), France Telecom (H1), Fulmar (H1), Next (H1), Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (H1), RMC (H1), Tilbury Douglas (H1), George Wimpey (H1).

A.G.M.: Aminex (e.g.m.), Somerfield.

Meetings: Irish Travel Agents Association Technology Day Conference (Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport); Battle for the Internet Turf telecoms conference (Burlington Hotel, Dublin).

Indicators: EMU earnings (Q1) and labour cost index (Q1); British claimant count (Aug), average earnings (Q2) and unit wages (Q2); US business inventories (Jul), consumer prices (Jul) and real earnings (Aug); German wholesale prices (Aug) and retail sales (Jul); French current account (Jun).

Others: European Parliament votes on newly appointed Commission; Canada Life vote on demutualisation in Toronto; Musgrave Food and drink showcase (RDS, Dublin); Young entrepreneur awards; LiveWire Ireland Business Start Up Awards (Croke Park).

Thursday

Results: Adobe Systems (Q3), BG (H1), British Aerospace (H1), Dawson International (H1), Diageo, Geest (H1), Morrison Supermarkets (H1), Norish (H1), Pechiney(H1), Psion (H1).

A.G.M.: First Ireland, Stanley Leisure.

Meetings: IAPF seminar on benefits survey and investment fund survey (UCD Industry Centre)

Indicators: British retail sales (Aug); US capacity utilisation (Aug) industrial production (Aug) Philadelphia Federal Survey (Sep) and weekly jobs and monetary data.

Others: National Innovation Awards (Dublin Castle).

Friday

Meetings: Irish Turkish business meeting (Alexander Hotel, Dublin).

Indicators: EMU producer prices (Jul); US housing starts/permits (Aug) and Michigan Sentiment Survey (Aug); Japanese industrial production (Jul).