Ahead of the Fed policy decision later in the day, Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY) wraps up the FTSE 100 bank reporting season this coming Wednesday, with its shares having dropped 2.5% in the week running up to the release as investors digest numbers from its peers.
Like many of its peers, the bank’s management warned they expect interest margins to drop in the first quarter, but analysts reckon this was conservative and some are also seeing scope for buybacks.
Flutter Entertainment PLC (LSE:FLTR) prepared for its results by gaining shareholder approval to add a New York listing to its one in London, while the UK gambling review emerged and was pretty benign in comparison with most of the measures the industry big boys have already put in place.
Analyst reaction was positive and, based on recent updates from rivals, the first quarter is predicted to have been fairly strong.
"Whilst Flutter has a circa 60% share of online sports betting in the US, it only has a c.20% share of online gaming; we believe this could be the next focus of investment," said analysts at Peel Hunt.
"We believe the performance of the International business should be supported by the continuing bedding in of Sisal, whilst the UK & Ireland should be stable".
When rival William Hill owner 888 updated on its Q1 trading, it was in line with previous guidance, while Ladbrokes owner Entain reported a strong start, with net gaming revenue up 11% in constant currency.
"Both of these results suggest FY23 should have started strongly for Flutter," Peel Hunt said.
Aston Martin’s resurgence has been one of the unlikeliest stories in the Formula One season so far and likewise its shares are up over 50% in the year to date.
The first quarter numbers on Wednesday should confirm the financial improvement, according to the City, though there is some doubt about the strength of the recent rally.
Not that dissimilarly, Barratt Developments PLC (LSE:BDEV) has been a strong performer so far this year, outdoing many of its peers as the sector bounces back from a year of heavy subsidence.
Following the green shoots from one rival in the past week, investors will be keen to see if a second swallow makes for a surer sign of summer ahead, with a focus on commentary around house selling prices, building costs and whether the land market is starting to see lower prices.
Significant announcements
Trading updates: Barratt Developments PLC (LSE:BDEV), Coca Cola HBC PLC, Flutter Entertainment PLC (LSE:FLTR), Haleon PLC (LSE:HLN, NYSE:HLN), Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY), OSB Group PLC (LSE:OSB), TI Fluid Systems PLC (LSE:TIFS)
Interims: Smiths News PLC (LSE:SNWS), Ten Lifestyle Group (AIM:TENG) PLC
Finals: Ashtead Technology Holdings PLC (AIM:AT.), Cambridge Cognition Holdings PLC (AIM:COG), Inspiration Healthcare Group PLC (AIM:IHC)
US earnings: Barrick Gold Corporation, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc, The Kraft Heinz Company, Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) Inc, Qualcomm Inc, Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER)
AGMs: Apax Global Alpha Ltd, Barclays PLC (LSE:BARC), Elementis plc (LSE:ELM), GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK), Logistics Development Group PLC (AIM:LDG), Okyo Pharma Ltd, Pershing Square Holdings (LSE:PSH) Ltd, Reach PLC (LSE:RCH), Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (LSE:RKT, ETR:3RB), Standard Chartered PLC (LSE:STAN), Unilever PLC (LSE:ULVR)
Economic announcements: MBA Mortgage Applications (US), PMI Composite (US), PMI Services (US), ISM Prices Paid (US), ISM Services (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US)