BT Group PLC (LON:BT.A) is due to release a trading statement for the fourth quarter on Thursday, one which will be keenly read by investors.
One of the clouds hanging over the telecoms group has moved away - the separation of its infrastructure business Openreach - but the pensions problem still casts a huge shadow.
Its January update, covering the third quarter of its fiscal year, produced decent figures, with adjusted underlying earnings (EBITDA) up 18% year-on-year, but down 8% when adjusted for the acquisition of EE.
The numbers were affected by the big write-downs related to the accounting scandal at its Italian business.
In view of how the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal in the banking sector turned out to be a much, much larger can of worms than anyone envisaged, shareholders will be anxious to learn that there have been no further write-downs associated with the Italian arm.
The stock is a favourite of pension funds for its handsome dividend, so focus will be on BT’s ability to continue to finance the pay-out.
Thursday’s schedule
Interim Results: On The Beach Group Plc (LON:OTB), Arrow Global Group (LON:ARW), Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (LON:42CL)
Final Result: Porta Communications PLC (LON:PTCM)
AGM / EGM: Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (LON:RBS), Starwood European Real Est Fin Ltd (LON:SWEF), TechFinancials Inc (LON:TECH), Phoenix Group Holdings (LON:PHNX), Plant Health Care PLC (LON:PHC), Keller Group PLC (LON:KLR), Lloyds Banking Group PLC ORD (LON:LLOY), Hill & Smith Holdings PLC (LON:HILS)
Trading Statement: Mondi Plc (LON:MNDI), SuperGroup PLC (LON:SGP), Vedanta Resources PLC (LON:VED), Galliford Try plc (LON:GFRD), Derwent London (LON:DLN), BT Group PLC (LON:BT.A), Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH), Amec Foster Wheeler PLC (LON:AMFW)