Standard Life (LON:SL.), the near 200 year old investment bank and insurer, closes out the week with full year numbers and traders will be keen to see how the firm is faring at a time of increasing change in the long term savings industry.
Shares in the Scottish headquartered group is trading at the time of writing at 342.9p, down around 12% since the start of the year, in line with the rest of the sector, but has still outperformed the wider falling market.
City broker Panmure has estimated the year will have seen total group inflows of £8.1 billion and assets under advisement of £306 billion.
Operating profit should be flat on the year at £605 million after improved momentum in the second half and the broker expects a final dividend to 12.29p, taking the full-year dividend to 18.31p.
The broker reckons the group's small annuity book and diversified asset portfolio will underpin further market strength and has upgraded the share to 'buy' from 'hold'.
Also in focus on Friday will be January's UK retail sales and public finance figures, and investors will be looking to see if there has been an improvement on the slip in retail sales of 1% seen in December.
Announcements expected:
Full year earnings:
Standard Life, Segro, Allianz, Coca-Cola Co