Several big name UK retailers will release interims or trading updates next week, although the US Presidential elections will no doubt dominate the news agenda.
Millions of Americans will take to the polls on Tuesday (8 November) as they vote to bring in their 45th President, with Hillary Clinton’s polling lead over Donald Trump having narrowed significantly towards the end of this week.
The polls – if we can ever trust them after their horrible Brexit miss – have Clinton securing 46.06% of the votes with Trump just behind on 45.1%.
Analysts will be looking at the results in the state of Ohio which is generally seen as a good indication of which candidate is likely to come out on top.
Since 1964, every nominee who has won the vote in that state has gone on to take up their seat in the Oval Office.
Recent surveys have shown that the top three concerns for US citizens in this year’s election are: the economy; terrorism; and foreign policy.
Away from the race to become ‘the most powerful person in the world’, retailer Marks & Spencer PLC (LON:MKS) is due to unveil its interims on Tuesday (8 November).
It’s been widely speculated that Marks – which has struggled in recent years – will announce that it is to close dozens of UK stores and several shops abroad as part of a strategy review.
According to industry figures, Marks’ saw its clothing market share decline by 5% in October, making it its ‘least bad’ month in almost two years.
Analysts will be looking out for signs of positive momentum in this division, as well as any revisions to guidance.
UK supermarket giant J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY) is set also to publish its interim results next Wednesday (9 November).
One of the major talking points next week will be the outlook for food prices, with imported inflation on the rise due to the post-Brexit tumble of the pound.
Analysts will also be on the look-out for just how the revival (or otherwise) of Asda is affecting the competition.
Sainsbury’s, with its bias towards London and the Home Counties, is seen as less vulnerable to an onslaught from the Leeds-based, Wal-Mart-owned giant.
Finally, there will undoubtedly be questions about Sainsbury’s recently-acquired Argos chain, with followers keen to assess how it is bedding in.
SuperDry owner SuperGroup (LON:SGP) is set to announce its first half trading update on Thursday (10 November).
Concerns over retailers have hampered the share price in recent weeks, although analysts think SuperGroup could throw in something of a surprise.
“We expect SuperGroup to buck the trend and demonstrate strong trading momentum in the UK, international markets and online,” said broker Peel Hunt.
Investors should keep an eye out for any news on developments across the pond, as well as how the new UK store format refurbishment programme is coming along.
Monday 7 November
Interims: OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (LON:MMK), HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA), E2V Technologies PLC (LON:E2V)
Finals: Oncimmune Holdings PLC (LON:ONC)
Trading statement: Hiscox Ltd (LON:HSX), Dignity PLC (LON:DTY)
Tuesday 8 November
Interims: Trifast PLC (LON:TRI), AVEVA Group PLC (LON:AVV), Marks & Spencer Group PLC (LON:MKS)
Finals: Punch Taverns PLC (LON:PUB), Trifast PLC (LON:TRI), Imperial Brands Plc (LON:IMB), Ceres Power Holdings PLC (LON:CWR), Associated British Foods PLC (LONL:ABF)
Trading statement: Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LON:DLG), Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group PLC (LON:JLT), BBA Aviation PLC (LON:BBA)
Wednesday 9 November
Interims: SSE plc (LON:SSE)Megafon (LON:PJSC), Sophos Group Plc (LON:SOPH), Arrow Global Group (LON:ARW), Experian PLC (LON:EXPN)Wizz Air Holdings Plc (LON:WIZZ), Burberry Group PLC (LON:BRBY), FlyBe (LON:FLYB), J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY), Workspace Group plc (LON:WKP)
Trading statement: Synthomer (LON:SYNT), Novae Group PLC (LON:NVA), Tullow Oil plc (LON:TLW), esure Group plc (LON:ESUR)
Thursday 10 November
Interims: Vedanta Resources PLC (LON:VED), 3i Group PLC (LON:III)Auto Trader Group Plc (LON:AUTO), Dairy Crest Group PLC (LON:DCG), National Grid PLC (LON:NG.), Halfords Group PLC (LON:HFD), Mercia Technologies Plc (LON:MERC), AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN)
Finals: Mobile Streams Plc (LON:MOS)
Trading statement: UBM Plc (LON:UBM), SuperGroup PLC (LON:SGP), IMI PLC (LON:IMI), Derwent London (LON:DLN), Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK), ITV PLC (LON:ITV)
Friday 11 November
Interims: TBC Bank Group Plc (LON:TBCG), Grupo Clarin (LON:GCLA)