Friday interest for investors is Close Brothers Group PLC (LSE:CBG), fresh from its shares scraping a decade low, its savings accounts appearing on best-buy lists and a report that it is looking at options for its asset management arm.
Expect the merchant bank's results to potentially see confirmation or denial of this latter point, plus management’s updated views on the banking and insurance landscape.
It will also be quieter as TheWorks, whose investors had pencilled in a trading update, gave notice just a week in advance that its auditor has “requested additional time to complete its standard audit procedures”.
Final results for the stationery and toys retailer said it was assured that nothing untoward had been uncovered and it now plans to publish the numbers on Wednesday 2 August, including an underlying profit (EBITDA) of £9mln, as predicted earlier in the year.
UK economic data will be led with retail sales and consumer confidence data, which both improved more than expected in last month’s update.
Significant announcements on Friday
Trading updates: Close Brothers Group PLC
US earnings: American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), Schlumberger NV
AGMs: Bidstack Group PLC (AIM:BIDS, OTC:FTBGF), FirstGroup PLC (LSE:FGP), Northern Venture Trust PLC, United Utilities Group PLC (LSE:UU.)
Economic announcements: GFK Consumer Confidence (UK), Retail Sales (UK)