A heavy week of macroeconomic news lies ahead, starting with Eurozone inflation data on Monday and later featuring interest rate decisions in both the UK and US.
No base rate cuts are expected from the Bank of England or Federal Reserve just yet, though any signal for when these could finally come will be eagerly awaited given subsiding inflation in both the US and UK recently.
Indeed, UK inflation stats for February, which are due on Wednesday, will likely confirm a continued easing in price rises, analysts say, with a sharp 0.5% month-on-month fall to 3.5% expected.
Close Brothers, Next, Prudential, Direct Line and Wetherspoons will be among firms complementing the macro-heavy week with their own updates meanwhile.
In terms of headline-grabbers, any update from Close Brothers on provisions relating to a Financial Conduct Authority probe into the motor finance market will be keenly awaited.
Talk around Direct Line’s recent rejection of a takeover bid from Belgium’s Ageas may also resurface.
And Asia-focused insurer Prudential’s performance will be under scrutiny given sluggish economic recovery since the pandemic in China.
For more on the macro week ahead, read the preview.
Monday 18 March
Announcements due:
Interims: Seeing Machines Ltd (AIM:SEE, OTC:SEEMF)
Finals: Marshalls PLC (LSE:MSLH), Serinus Energy PLC (AIM:SENX), The Innovation Group PLC, Team Internet Group (AIM:TIG) PLC
AGMs: Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust PLC
Economic announcements: Consumer Price Index (EU)
Tuesday 19 March
How much will Close Brothers be keeping aside to cover the potential hit from a probe into the motor finance market... Read more
Announcements due:
Interims: Close Brothers Group PLC (LSE:CBG), Dfs Furniture PLC, Eagle Eye Solutions Group PLC (AIM:EYE), Litigation Capital Management Ltd (AIM:LIT)
Finals: Atalaya Mining (AIM:ATYM, TSX:AYM) PLC, Essentra PLC (LSE:ESNT), Fintel PLC (AIM:FNTL), Midwich Group PLC (AIM:MIDW), Mpac Group (LSE:MPAC) PLC, M.P. Evans Group PLC, The Pebble Group PLC (AIM:PEBB), Personal Group Holdings PLC (AIM:PGH), Sabre Insurance Group PLC (LSE:SBRE), Staffline Group PLC (AIM:STAF), Trustpilot Group PLC (LSE:TRST), Tissue Regenix Group PLC (AIM:TRX), Yu Group PLC, Zotefoams PLC (LSE:ZTF)
US earnings: Xpeng Inc (NYSE:XPEV)
AGMs: Crest Nicholson Holdings PLC, Eco Animal Health Group PLC (AIM:EAH), Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 1 and 2, Nuformix PLC, Scirocco Energy PLC (AIM:SCIR), Blackrock Throgmorton Trust PLC, Various Eateries PLC (AIM:VARE)
Economic announcements: Building Permits (US), Housing Starts (US) Interest rate decision (AUS)
Wednesday 20 March
Can Prudential's new chief executive keep to ambitious growth targets as Chinese economic woes persist... Read the preview
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Investec PLC (LSE:INVP)
Interims: Vietnam Holding Ltd
Finals: Anpario PLC (LSE:ANP), Ceres Power Holdings PLC (LSE:CWR, OTC:CPWHF), Computacenter PLC (LSE:CCC), EKF Diagnostics (AIM:EKF) Holdings PLC, Eurocell PLC (LSE:ECEL), FDM Group (LSE:FDM) PLC, Kenmare Resources plc (LSE:KMR), MTI Wireless Edge, Prudential PLC (LSE:PRU)
US earnings: Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU)
AGMs: BSF Enterprise PLC (LSE:BSFA), CEPS plc (AIM:CEPS), Mti Wireless Edge Ltd
Economic announcements: Consumer Price Index (UK), Producer Price Index (UK), Retail Price Index (UK), Fed Interest Rate Decision (US), MBA Mortgage Applications (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US)
Thursday 21 March
Next has gone from strength to strength with repeated profit upgrades this year, can results offer more upside... Read the preview
Direct Line's rejection of a takeover by Ageas will leave investors wanting more information in its report... Read the preview
Announcements due:
Trading updates: C&C Group PLC (LSE:CCR)
Interims: RegTech Open Project PLC (LSE:RTOP)
Finals: Aptitude Software Group PLC (LSE:APTD), Aquis Exchange PLC (AIM:AQX), Centamin PLC (LSE:CEY, TSX:CEE, OTC:CELTF), Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG), Dowlais Group PLC (LSE:DWL), Energean PLC (LSE:ENOG), Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Hostelworld (LSE:HSW) Group PLC, Ithaca Energy PLC (LSE:ITH), M&G PLC (LSE:MNG), National World PLC (LSE:NWOR), Next PLC (LSE:NXT), Secure Trust Bank PLC (LSE:STB), Tribal Group PLC (AIM:TRB)
US earnings: Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN), Signet Jewelers Ltd, FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX, ETR:FDX), Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE, ETR:NKE)
Economic announcements: BoE Interest Rate Decision (UK), Public Sector Net Borrowing (UK), Continuing Claims (US), Current Account (US), Initial Jobless Claims (US), Existing Home Sales (US), Inflation (Japan)
Ex-dividends to reduce FTSE 100 by: 6.59
Friday 22 March
Wetherspoons has already said sales were strong over the first half of the year, but will the pub giant have improved margins... Read more
Announcements due:
Interims: J D Wetherspoon PLC, SkinBioTherapeutics PLC (AIM:SBTX)
Finals: Dunedin Enterprise Investment Trust PLC, Phoenix Group Holdings PLC (LSE:PHNX), Robinson
AGMs: Faron Pharmaceuticals OY, Kitwave Group Ltd, URU Metals, Triple Point Energy Transition PLC
Economic announcements: GFK Consumer Confidence (UK), Retail Sales (UK)