In a week when the US goes quiet for Thanksgiving and not much news is due on the corporate front, investors will be on the look out for signs of economic recovery in the euro zone in the coming week, with Germany's Ifo index the main focus, after a surge in retail sales triggered expectations of an upturn in the United States.
While economists see the euro zone's economy lagging behind the US's, they expect a rise in the Ifo institute's key west German business climate indicator on Wednesday. It fell to 85 from 89.5 in October after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, in its biggest monthly drop since November 1973.
Euro zone industrial production data for September, due this morning, will also be closely scrutinised for signs of slowdown by the European Central Bank, whose governing council meets on rates again on Thursday.
However, it has clearly indicated that there will be no change this time around.
Monday
Results: Agilent Technologies (Q4), Burtonwood Brewery (H1), EMI (H1), Genemedix (Q3), Hampson Industries (H1), Intelek, James Cropper, Lowe's (Q3), Majestic Wine (H1), Reflec, TBI (H1), Torotrak (H1), Toys 'R' Us (Q3).
A.G.M.: Monotub (e.g.m.).
Meetings: Irish Co-operative Society national conference (Burlington Hotel, Dublin - to Tues)
Indicators: US housing permits/starts/completions (Oct); German producer prices (Oct).
Tuesday
Results: Abacus Group, Alterian (H1), Analog Devices (Q4), Celsis International (H1), Claims Direct (H1), CML Microsystems (H1), Credit Suisse (Q3), Great Portland Estates (H1), GWR (H1), Limited (Q3), National Grid Group (H1), Ncipher (Q3), New Look (H1), Paragon Group, Penna Consulting (H1), RM, Staples (Q3), Target (Q3), TotalFinaElf (Q3), Robert Wiseman Dairies (H1), VA Linux Systems (Q1).
A.G.M.: Freeport, Murray Extra Return.
Meetings: Foresight business breakfast addressed by IDA Ireland chief executive Mr Sean Dorgan (Trinity College dining hall); Microsoft/WCI seminar on "Incremental Connectivity"; The Irish Times Business 2000 breakfast forum (Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: EMU industrial production (Sep); British trade balance (Sep), non-EU trade (Oct) and M4 data (Oct); US trade balance (Sep), imports (Sep), exports (Sep) and leading indicators (Oct); Italian industrial orders (Sep).
Others: OECD releases preliminary economic outlook; Irish Times PA Consulting Group Management Award 2001.
Wednesday
Results: Dimension Data, Enodis, Generics (Q3), ING (Q3), Itis Holdings (H1), MAN (Q3), Novell (Q4), Protagone, J Sainsbury (H1), Swisscom (Q3), Tribal Group (H1).
A.G.M.: Charteris, Eleco, Profile Therapeutics.
Meetings: Friends First Asset Management investment conference (Alexander Hotel, Dublin); Sales Institute of Ireland conference (Westbury Hotel, Dublin); Logistics Ireland annual conference (Burlington Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: French consumer spending (Oct); German Ifo business climate indicator (Oct).
Thursday
Results: Babcock International (H1), Chrysalis Group, Easyscreen (H1), Finnair (Q3), FKI (H1), Fortis (Q3), Mothercare (H1), Safeway (H1), Scapa Group (H1), Victoria (H1).
A.G.M.: Primary Healthcare Props, Schroder Ventures.
Meetings: ECB governing council meets (Frankfurt); IBEC annual human resources conference (Burlington Hotel, Dublin); American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland thanksgiving lunch addressed by the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney (Conrad Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: Irish wholesale prices (Oct); British GDP (Q3); French consumer prices (Oct); Italian business confidence (Oct), EU trade (Sep) and non-EU trade (Oct).
Others: Thanksgiving Day public holiday in the US; Royal Dublin Society Gold Medal for Industry Award 2001.
Friday
A.G.M.: Manganese Bronze, Northamber, NRG Group, Sheffield United.
Meetings: IBEC/Enterprise Ireland International digital media seminar (Leopardstown Pavilion, Dublin); Conference on management accounting (Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport).
Indicators: EMU current account (Sep); Irish retail sales (Sep) and industrial production (Sep); German import prices (Oct); French GDP (Q3).
