The flow of company updates turns into more of a torrent in the coming week, with blue chip retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and B&M, along with high street names like Greggs, Games Workshop, and Nichols adding to the newsflow.
Housebuilders Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry also provide an update on a sector where investors are hoping for a turnaround from the gloom last year.
At the end of the week, the US earnings season kicks off with a bundle of big banks and a few others, a day after US inflation data that is also likely to be the main macroeconomic focus of the week.
Monday 8 January
Company previews:
The usual slow start to the week allows a focus on any stories that emerged over the weekend.
For the space and related sectors, all eyes will be on the maiden launch of the long-awaited Vulcan rocket from United Launch Alliance, which is carrying some notable payloads and with joint owners Lockheed and Boeing also reported to be close to selling up …read the preview.
Other news:
AGMs: Plus500 Ltd (LSE:PLUS), Velocys PLC (AIM:VLS)
Economic data: EU Economic sentiment and retail sales, German factory orders
Tuesday 9 January
Company previews:
FTSE 100-listed discounter B&M European Value Retail will provide an update that should reveal whether sales have arrested the slowdown seen earlier in the year …read the preview.
Elsewhere, Asda’s private equity owners TDR Capital will give evidence to the Commons Business and Trade select committee.
Others due to report:
Trading updates: Foresight Group Holdings Ltd (LSE:FSG)
Interims: Games Workshop Group PLC (LSE:GAW)
Finals: Shoe Zone
AGMs: Agriterra (AIM:AGTA) Ltd, Dx (Group) PLC, Genincode PLC, Leeds Group PLC (AIM:LDSG), Smart Metering Systems PLC (AIM:SMS)
Economic announcements: BRC Retail Sales (UK), Balance of Trade (US), NFIB smaller companies survey (US)
Wednesday 10 January
Company previews:
J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY) reports third-quarter earnings with recent industry data giving analysts confidence the supermarket enjoyed a happy festive time, with the shares up 18% since the start of November … read the preview.
If recent updates from Lidl and Aldi are anything to go by, some think this means Greggs PLC (LSE:GRG) could also post a strong quarterly update …read the preview.
Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) is one of a handful of big builders reporting this week. Investors will be keen to hear current industry views after the subsiding buyer demand and house prices seen last year …read the preview.
Elsewhere, big tech sector news will be sales figures from chip foundry Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC).
Others due to report:
Trading updates: Hunting PLC, Glenveagh Properties PLC (LSE:GLV), Nichols PLC (AIM:NICL)
AGMs: Hummingbird Resources PLC (LSE:HUM), Ironveld PLC (AIM:IRON), Reabold Resources PLC (AIM:RBD), Scirocco Energy PLC (AIM:SCIR), Safestyle UK PLC (AIM:SFE), Versarien PLC (AIM:VRS, OTC:VRSRF)
Economic announcements: Wholesales Inventories (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US)
Thursday 11 January
Company previews:
As with its closest rival, results from Tesco PLC (LSE:TSCO) for the past quarter follow some encouraging industry data from Kantar and could help shares continue the solid recovery made last year…read the preview.
Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) also joins the retail reporting season, with investors hoping that a strong festive period can lay the foundations for the global expansion plans recently set out by chairman Archie Norman …read the preview.
Premier Inn owner Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB) will also be aiming to book in for a longer upward trajectory, having recently enjoyed upgrades from several analysts ...read the preview.
Thursday also sees an update from another of the blue-chip housebuilders, with Taylor Wimpey PLC (LSE:TW.) facing the same challenges as its peers but coming across as slightly more chipper in its forecasts last time out … read the preview.
US inflation is likely to be the big macroeconomic highlight of the week and could spark a powerful market reaction ...read more.
Others due to report:
Trading updates: Grafton Group, Hilton Food Group PLC (LSE:HFG), Reach PLC (LSE:RCH), Robert Walters PLC (LSE:RWA)
Interims: Knights Group Holdings PLC (AIM:KGH)
Finals: Ferrexpo PLC (LSE:FXPO), Atrato Onsite Energy PLC (LSE:ROOF)
Economic announcements: Consumer Price Index (US)
Ex-dividends to reduce FTSE 100 by: 1.60
Friday 12 January
Company previews:
In late autumn Vistry Group PLC (LSE:VTY) followed a gloomy trading update with a large asset sale but the boost to investor optimism may not survive unless the outlook for this year is more positive …read the preview.
John Wood Group PLC (LSE:WG.), the oilfield and carbon capture services specialist, also provides its first trading statement since reporting slower growth but reiterating its full-year outlook in November ...read the preview.
GDP figures from the Office for National Statistics are also due, which could indicate whether the UK economy entered a “technical recession”, following a slight fall in third-quarter numbers in recent revisions to the data ...read the macro preview.
US earnings season also gets going with Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, BlackRock, Citigroup, Delta Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, United Health and Wells Fargo.
Others due to report:
US earnings: Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Blackrock Inc, Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) Inc, JP Morgan Chase & Co, UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH), Wells Fargo & Co
AGMs: Dukemount Capital PLC (LSE:DKE), Ashington Innovation PLC (LSE:ASHI)
Economic announcements: Gross Domestic Product (UK), Index of Services (UK), Industrial Production (UK), Manufacturing Production (UK), University of Michigan Confidence (Preliminary) (US)