Pennon, Ocado, JD Sports, Kingfisher and betting firms all feature among the lineup of companies set to provide updates in the run-up to Easter.
Gross domestic product (GDP) data from the UK and US will then give investors further macroeconomic data to mull over later in the week.
Pennon kicks off with a third-quarter update on Monday, with investors likely seeking news on the utility's £89 million takeover of Sutton and East Surrey Water, unveiled in January.
That said, ongoing scrutiny over sewage spills in the UK saw water firms make headlines more recently after urging a cap on industry dividends could hit infrastructure improvement plans... Read more
Ocado’s spat with M&S over performance-linked payments then risks being thrown back into the limelight on Tuesday, while betting firms 888 Holdings and Flutter will also update.
Reports from B&Q owner Kingfisher and Bellway early in the week will offer investors a glimpse into the UK’s retail and housing markets meanwhile, with cruise ship firm Carnival and JD Sports then updating later as we head toward the long Easter weekend.
On the macro side, this week’s decisions by both the Bank of England and Federal Reserve to hold rates will be followed by gross domestic product data next.
In the US, the Fed ramped up expectations for economic growth over 2024, while the BoE struck a dovish tone on interest in the UK, signalling cuts to the base rates from June.
“This is good news for UK growth and for the UK consumer,” as per XTB’s Kathleen Brooks, with clarity on both the central banks’ outlooks sending stock markets higher this week.
Monday 25 March
Will Pennon offer further detail on its takeover of Sutton and East Surrey Water, unveiled in January... Read more
UBS analysts were optimistic on the DIY market in February, will Kingfisher's full-year results back the view up... Read more
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd, Pennon Group PLC (LSE:PNN, OTC:PEGRY)
Interims: Virgin Wines UK PLC (AIM:VINO)
Finals: Amaroq Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:AMRQ, AIM:AMRQ), Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon PLC, Boot (Henry) PLC, Central Asia Metals PLC (AIM:CAML, OTC:CAMLF), Impact Healthcare REIT PLC (LSE:IHR), Kingfisher PLC (LSE:KGF), Ocean Harvest Technology Group PLC (AIM:OHT), Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLC (LSE:ORIT), Rtc Group PLC, Tandem Group PLC (AIM:TND), Us Solar Fund PLC
AGMs: Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC (LSE:DGI9), Hardide PLC (AIM:HDD), Sondrel (Holdings) PLC, GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK)
Economic announcements: New Homes Sales (US)
Tuesday 26 March
Investors will be hoping for a business-as-usual update from Ocado after its recent clash with joint venture partner M&S... Read the preview
A competition probe into the housing market could be on Bellway investors' minds after a tough year for builders... Read more
Yet another fresh management team at 888 Holdings will be in focus as the betting firm reports... Read the preview
Strong prospects in the US saw JP Morgan view 888 rival Flutter favourably recently meanwhile, ahead of its final results... Read more
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO), Time Finance PLC (AIM:TIME)
Interims: Bellway PLC (LSE:BWY), Softcat (LSE:SCT) PLC, Smiths Group (LSE:SMIN) PLC, YouGov PLC (AIM:YOU)
Finals: 888 Holdings PLC (LSE:888), Airea (AIM:AIEA) PLC, Amaroq Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:AMRQ, AIM:AMRQ), Big Technologies PLC (AIM:BIG), CAB Payment Holdings PLC, CPP Group (LSE:CPP) PLC, Digitalbox PLC (AIM:DBOX) Empresaria Group, Flutter Entertainment PLC (LSE:FLTR), Forterra PLC (LSE:FORT) Genel Energy PLC (LSE:GENL, OTC:GEGYY) GetBusy PLC (AIM:GETB), Good Energy Group PLC, Harworth Group PLC, Inspired PLC (AIM:INSE), Life Science REIT, Luceco PLC (LSE:LUCE), Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Niox Group PLC, Petershill Partners PLC (LSE:PHLL), Real Estate Investors (AIM:RLE) PLC, Regional REIT (LSE:RGL) Ltd, WAG Payment Solutions PLC (LSE:WPS), Wood Group (John) PLC, Xaar, Fevertree Drinks (AIM:FEVR) PLC
US earnings: GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME)
AGMs: Becket Invest PLC (LSE:TAB), Power Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW), Titon Holdings (LSE:TON) PLC, Wynnstay Group
Economic announcements: Durable Goods Orders (US), House Price Index (US), Consumer Confidence (US)
Wednesday 27 March
Strong booking momentum towards the end of last year will have Carnival investors hoping for smooth sailing during the traditionally quiet first quarter... Read the preview
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Vanquis Banking Group PLC (LSE:VANQ)
Interims: Carnival PLC (LSE:CCL), Gelion PLC (AIM:GELN), James Halstead PLC (AIM:JHD), Nanoco Group PLC (LSE:NANO)
Finals: Artisanal Spirits Company PLC, BioPharma Credit PLC (LSE:BPCR), Corero Network Security PLC, Ecora Resources PLC (LSE:ECOR, TSX:ECOR, OTCQX:ECRAF), Norman Broadbent PLC (AIM:NBB), Old Mutual Ltd, S4 Capital PLC (LSE:SFOR), Spectra Systems Corp, Vanquis Banking Group PLC (LSE:VANQ), Windward Ltd (AIM:WNWD), Endeavour Mining PLC (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF)
AGMs: Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust PLC, LPA Group (AIM:LPA) PLC, Nexus Infrastructure PLC, Rights & Issues Investment Trust PLC, Tekmar Group PLC (AIM:TGP)
Economic announcements: MBA Mortgage Applications (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US)
Thursday 28 March
Will JD Sports look like getting back on track to meet ambitions multi-year targets after a January profit warning... Read the preview
Announcements due:
Interims: Crystal Amber Fund Ltd
Finals: Arbuthnot Banking Group (AIM:ARBB) PLC, Bbgi Global Infrastructure SA, Bank Of Cyprus Holdings, Capricorn Energy PLC (LSE:CNE, OTC:CRNZF), Chesnara PLC (LSE:CSN), Enquest PLC (AIM:ENQ), Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust PLC, International Public Partnerships, JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD.)
US earnings: Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA, ETR:W8A)
AGMs: Malin Corporation PLC, Autins Group PLC (AIM:AUTG), Dorcaster PLC, Idox PLC (AIM:IDOX), Law Debenture Corporation (LSE:LWDB) PLC, Mediazest PLC (AIM:MDZ), React Group PLC (LSE:REAT)
Economic announcements: Current Account (UK), Gross Domestic Product (UK), Nationwide House Price Index (UK), Continuing Claims (US), Gross Domestic Product (US), Initial Jobless Claims (US), Quarterly Personal Consumption Expenditures (US), Pending Homes Sales (US), University of Michigan Confidence (Final) (US)
Ex-dividends to reduce FTSE 100 by: 3.98
Friday 29 March
MARKETS CLOSED FOR GOOD FRIDAY
Economic announcements: Monthly Personal Consumption Expenditures (US), Personal Income (US), Personal Spending (US).