Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) will likely confront questions on rumours that it is considering carving off its UK business when it reports its first half results on Thursday.
The pensions giant is expected to deliver another robust performance in its Asian division after first quarter earnings more than doubled in China and rose by double digits in Hong Kong.
New business profit, a measure of future Asian profitability, jumped 26% in the first quarter. The US also delivered a 26% increase in new business profit.
In comparison, UK new business profit edged up 15%.
With its Asia division continuing to drive growth, it has been speculated that Prudential will split of its UK arm, including annuities, the PruFund and M&G operations.
Speculation of a break-up has been fuelled by reports that Prudential has put a £10bn block of UK annuities up for sale.
The Financial Times reported on Monday that the company has been more open to the idea of getting rid of its mature UK business.
Prudential has declined to comment on the report but investors will be hoping chief executive Mike Wells sheds light on its plans for the company.
Bad weather may rain on Glencore's parade
Glencore PLC's (LON:GLEN) also reports its interim results on Thursday and investors will be looking to see if recent bad weather had an impact.
RBC Canada analyst Tyler Broda, in a recent note, highlighted that several events – including wet weather at Mutanda, an extended furnace rebuild at Murrin Murrin, a pit wall issue at Alumbrera, rain in Columbia - will have impacted upon the miner’s second quarter performance.
Broda expects copper production numbers will be down around 8%, nickel would be 18% lower while coal and zinc output will be off by 7% and 2% respectively. “Production is expected to recover in H2, however not all of the delays will be caught up,” the analyst said.
Commodity marketing is, however, expected to be a strength for Glencore. “Positively offsetting the production guidance is a second consecutive quarterly upgrade in EBIT guidance for the marketing business.”
DFS posts full year trading update after profit warning
Elsewhere, DFS Furniture Plc (LON:DFS) reports a trading statement ahead of its full year results in October.
In June the furniture retailer issued a profit warning as uncertainty over Brexit and the UK general election led to a slowdown in the housing market and weighed on consumer confidence.
The furniture retailer had said it expects full year underlying earnings (EBITDA) to be lower than market estimates at a range of £82mln to £87mln after weaker-than-expected trading with a material reduction in customer orders.
Numis said it does not expect demand to have recovered since the last update so the focus will be on what flexibility DFS can exercise in costs to protect annual profits.
Significant announcements due:
Trading update: TUI Group PLC (Q3) (LON:TUI)
Interims: Aldermore Group PLC (LON:ALD), Amec Foster Wheeler PLC (LON:AMFW),Tritax Big Box Reit PLC (LON:BBOX), Capital & Regional PLC (LON:CAL), Coca-Cola HBC PLC (LON:CCH), Cineworld Group PLC (LON:CINE), Derwent London PLC (LON:DLN), Evraz plc (LON:EVR), Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN), Hill & Smith Holdings PLC (LON:HILS), Ibstock Plc (LON:IBST), North Midland Construction PLC (LON:NMD), Prudential PLC (LON:PRU), Vitec Group PLC (LON:VTC), Wentworth Resources PLC (LON:WRL)
Finals: DFS Furniture Plc (LON:DFS)
Economic data: UK industrial, manufacturing production