UK bank results and earnings from Silicon Vallay tech titans are the key corporate themes for the coming week, while the move from April to May brings a new round of macroeconomic data, including the must-watch US non-farm payrolls.
In London, results to watch include half of the FTSE 100's top 20 largest companies, including AstraZeneca, BP and HSBC on Tuesday.
On Wednesday comes Barclays, GSK and Haleon, then Lloyds and LSE Group on Thursday, with Shell, NatWest and Standard Chartered on Friday.
US earnings include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms and Super Micro Computer, as well as numerous other S&P 500 constituents.
Monday 28 April
Announcements due:
Finals: Elixirr International, Frenkel Topping Group, Mpac Group
AGM: Celsius Resources, Solvonis Therapeutics, Team Internet Group
Economic announcements: CBI Distributive Trades (UK)
Tuesday 29 April
AstraZeneca shares are down by over 20% from highs late last summer, with a sharp fall since Donald Trump's tariff announcement at the start of April, meaning the update comes at a delicate time for the global pharmaceutical sector...read more
Swiss peer Roche said it was engaged in direct discussions with officials in the Trump administration, highlighting concerns that a strict push for domestic-only production could sharply increase costs. The Anglo-Swedish giant's management should also have some views on the subject.
HSBC's first-quarter results come with investor attention sharply focused on its outlook for Asia, capital return plans, and the impact of US tariffs...read more
Following BP's production update earlier in the month, which showed natural gas production down but oil output up in the first quarter, one investment bank downgraded its stance on the stock, saying the increased financial uncertainty may hinder the company’s efforts to rebuild the confidence of investors, including activist Elliott Advisors...read more
First results as a FTSE 100 company are due from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, though there may be a taint to numbers after the bottler was forced to recall a host of soft drinks brands across Europe due to safety fears earlier this year...read more
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Alfa Financial Software Holdings, AstraZeneca, BP, Beazley, Breedon Group, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Elementis, Entain, Howden Joinery, HSBC, NCC Group, Travis Perkins
Interims: Associated British Foods, Focusrite
Finals: Animalcare Group, Mobico Group, Mpac Group, Pod Point Group, Touchstar, Warpaint London
Overseas earnings: Coca-Cola, General Motors, Kraft Heinz, PayPal, Pfizer, Spotify, Visa, Snap, Starbucks, Super Micro Computer
AGM: Breedon Group, Elementis, Harmony Energy Income Trust, Nexteq, Ocado Group, Robert Walters, Sthree
Economic announcements: BRC Shop Price (UK), Consumer Confidence (EU), Balance of Trade (US), Retail Inventories (US), JOLTs Job Openings (US), CB Consumer Confidence (US)
Wednesday 30 April
Barclays was highlighted by one investment bank as the pick of the UK lenders, well positioned through the strength of its investment banking division and upside from its trading business...read more
GSK's vaccine business will be under the spotlight, given the appointment of jab-sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jnr as US health secretary...read more
Haleon, the former toothpaste and painkillers business spun out of GSK and Pfizer, also reports midweek, with analysts suggesting the group is well positioned for the current uncertain climate...read more
Aberdeen Group reports for the first time since EEEsing into another name change, with updates from others in the funds sector suggesting this could be a mixed update.
Later on, earnings from $4 trillion worth of tech giants, in Microsoft and Meta Platforms, though even some bullish supporters in Wall Street have been nervous about Microsoft's prospects of late, while others still see opportunities...read more
As for the Instagram and Facebook owner, Meta is expected to report another quarter of strong revenue and profit growth, but will also be on the lookout for updates regarding advertising trends, AI spending and how it is navigating regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds...read more
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Aberdeen Group, Aston Martin Lagonda, Barclays, Coca Cola HBC, Glencore, GSK, Haleon, OSB Group, PPHE Hotel, Prudential, Santander UK, Segro, Smith & Nephew, Spectris, Taylor Wimpey
Finals: Novacyt, Puretech Health, Sanderson Design Group, Strix Group, Videndum
Overseas earnings: Airbus, Caterpillar, Etsy, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Qualcomm
AGM: Alfa Financial Software Holdings, Anglo American, Aviva, BBGI Global Infrastructure, F&C Investment Trust, Glanbia, Lancashire Holdings, M&G, Melrose Industries, Minoan Group, STV Group, Symphony International Holdings, Taylor Wimpey, Unilever, Winking Studios, Woodbois
Economic announcements: Manufacturing PMI (CHI), GDP (EU), ADP Employment (US), PCE Prices (US), Personal Income and Spending (US), GDP Price Index (US), Chicago PMI (US), Pending Home Sales (US)
Thursday 1 May
Moving into the new month of May (don't mow your lawns, people), this brings new economic data on the manufacturing sector from the PMIs survey, house prices from Nationwide, lending from the Bank of England, and the people in charge of repairing local pot holes as local elections are held for 24 local authorities and six combined authority and metropolican mayors.
Shares in Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY) have risen by a third since the start of the year and trading around decade highs, bouncing back from each dip as investors question whether they should be, given the possibility of a global recession triggered by US tariffs...read more
Not dissimilarly, London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LSE:LSEG) hit a all-time high in early February and is not far off that level in April, with one analyst recently highlighting the group's compelling combination of steady recurring revenue, improving profitability and potential valuation upside...read more
Premier Inn owner Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB) offers a contrast, with its shares down 15% since the start of the year and almost s third lower than highs early last year, though some analysts see sun through the clouds of the tourism sector...read more
After the US session is over, Apple's fiscal second quarter earnings will be pored over for management commentary about how the company is navigating new US tariffs...read more
Amazon and weight-loss opponents Eli Lilly and McDonald’s will also be reporting earnings.
Announcements due:
Trading updates: Endeavour Mining, Hiscox, Lancashire, Lloyds, London Stock Exchange Group, Morgan Sindall, Persimmon
Finals: Clean Power Hydrogen, Keystone Law Group, Whitbread
Overseas earnings: Amazon, Amgen, Apple, Block, Coinbase, Cameco, Eli Lilly, Mastercard, McDonald’s, Moderna, Rio Platforms
AGM: AIB Group, Alliance Witan, Clarkson, Direct Line Insurance Group, Drax Group, Howden Joinery Group, Johnson Service Group, Kerry Group, London Stock Exchange Group, Pershing Square Holdings, Persimmon, Reach, Rolls Royce Holdings, Sig, SigmaRoc, Synthomer
Economic announcements: Local Elections (UK), Nationwide House Prices (UK), BoE Consumer Credit (UK), Manufacturing PMI (UK, US), Mortgage Approvals (UK), Initial Jobless Claims (US), ISM Manufacturing PMI (US)
Friday 2 May
Wrapping up the week, there will be some important economic data for the EU and US, especially on inflation and the jobs market.
In London corporate news, Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) is set to report first-quarter profits and cash flows with analysts and investors watching closely for signs of pressure on shareholder returns from weaker commodity prices...read more
NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) will report its first results since the financial crisis with the UK government no longer the bank’s largest shareholder, and with its shares fresh from hitting 14-year highs as conditions remains remarkably benign for UK lenders...read more
Even though Standard Chartered PLC (LSE:STAN) is heavily focused on Greater China, its shares are trading around decade highs, fuelled by record income and buyback firepower...read more
Announcements due:
Trading updates: NatWest Group, Pearson, Shell, Standard Chartered
Overseas earnings: Chevron, Exxon Mobil
AGM: HSBC, Pearson, Pulsar Helium, Rotork
Economic announcements: Inflation (EU), HCOB Manufacturing PMI (EU), Unemployment (EU), CPI flash (EU), Non-Farm Payrolls (US), Unemployment (US), Average Hourly Earnings (US), Factory Orders (US)