Christmas is already a fading memory but at least we have the flood of trading updates from retailers to remind us of that ill-judged purchase.
Among the big names reporting are fashion firm Burberry, car parts and bikes seller Halfords and pet accessories peddler Pets at Home.
Christmas is no less important to the pubs trade, so Wednesday’s update from Wetherspoon might be a bit of a bellwether for the rest of the trade, while of course, when it comes to reliance on a bumper Christmas, few companies can top Royal Mail Group.
At Burberry, foreign exchange fluctuations have been softening the blow of a tricky period for the luxury goods seller.
In November, the firm revealed that half-year profits had fallen by more than a third from the year before, though the second quarter saw an improvement in like-for-like sales.
Digital traffic increased year-on-year, with mobile accounting for over 50% of the mix and conversion improved in both channels (retail/wholesale and licensing).
Third party digital revenue grew strongly and, at retail value, is now more than half the size of Burberry’s in-house digital revenues.
Liberum Capital Markets is not optimistic about the retailer and wholesaler’s medium-term prospects.
“Fundamentally we believe that Burberry has too many stores and will see scant underlying growth over the next three years,” Liberum said.
Royal Mail’s share price performance has been disappointing since Brexit, noted Graham Spooner, at the Share Centre.
“Investors will thus hope that during the all-important Christmas period online shoppers may have boosted the company,” Spooner believes.
“For the time being, the market appears to be focussed on the growing threat of competition, its pension plans and falling letter volumes,” he added.
Significant announcements expected
Monday
Trading statements: Ashmore group PLC (LON:ASHM), Rio Tinto PLC (LON:RIO)
Tuesday
Finals: Elegant Hotels Group PLC (LON:EHG)
Trading statements: Cairn Energy PLC (LON:CNE), Sinclair IS PHARMA PLC (LON:SPH)
Wednesday
Trading statements: Burberry Group PLC (LON:BRBY), N Brown Group (LON:BWNG), Diploma PLC (LON:DPLM), Experian PLC (LON:EXPN), Greggs plc (LON:GRG), Hochschild Mining PLC (LON:HOC), Wetherspoon (J D) PLC (LON:JDW)
Thursday
Interims: 1pm PLC (LON:OPM), NCC Group PLC (LON:NCC)
Trading statements: British Land Co PLC (LON:BLND), Evraz plc (LON:EVR), Halfords Group PLC (LON:HFD), Pets at Home Group PLC (LON:PETS), Royal Mail PLC (LON:RMG), Workspace Group plc (LON:WKP)
Friday
Trading statements: Close Brothers Group PLC (LON:CBG), Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC (LON:MONY)