SSE PLC (LSE:SSE) is due to release its half-year figures, with the power generation company expected to report significant growth in earnings compared to last year.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused gas prices to shoot up, the FTSE 100-listed group said additional profit will be reinvested in projects that “will provide long-term solutions that help reduce the UK’s exposure to volatile international gas prices” (see full SSE preview for more on its plans and the potential impact of a windfall tax).
Following interims from sector peer Land Securities, FTSE 100 property developer rival British Land takes its turn.
When we last heard from him way back in May, British Land boss Simon Carter said: “We are mindful of current elevated economic and geo-political uncertainties, but our strategic advantage in sectors with pricing power means we can look ahead with confidence.”
But interest rates and the economic outlook have both changed a lot since then (which analysts note has led to big falls in share prices and large discounts to net assets).
Elsewhere, CMC Markets enjoyed more volatile and active market conditions in the first half of the year even though 2022 is “a year of transition”, according to broker Peel Hunt, with lots of work to deliver to make the business more diverse and resilient.
“We expect updates on the launch of the investment platform and the expansion of other products, all leveraging the core platform strengths.”
As a ‘digital middleman’, Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) sits between borrowers and lenders, a sweet spot as demand for data from both sides continues with strength, say analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown.
“Half-year results next week should shed light on whether the group’s target of 7-9% organic growth this year remains intact. Analysts remain a little more cautious, expecting growth toward the lower end of that range.”
UK consumer price inflation is expected to be up 10.6% from 10.1% in September, but with core CPI to have dipped to 6.4% from 6.5%.
Most economists predict that October’s inflation data will mark the peak for UK CPI.
This data will include the latest rise in electricity/gas prices, which came in last month but are now being fixed by the government until at least April.
Significant announcements on Wednesday
Finals: Sage Group PLC
Interims: British Land Company PLC (LSE:BLND) (British Land Company PLC (LSE:BLND)), Castings PLC (LSE:CGS) (Castings PLC (LSE:CGS)), CMC Markets PLC (LSE:CMCX) (CMC Markets PLC (LSE:CMCX)), Experian (LSE:EXPN) PLC, Mediclinic International Plc (LSE:MDC) (Mediclinic International Plc (LSE:MDC)), Premier Foods PLC, Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust (LSE:SREI) (Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust (LSE:SREI)) Ltd, SSE PLC (LSE:SSE)
Trading updates: Bridgepoint Group PLC (LSE:BPT) (Bridgepoint Group PLC (LSE:BPT))
AGMs: Dunelm Group PLC (LSE:DNLM) (Dunelm Group PLC (LSE:DNLM)), European Opportunities Trust PLC (LSE:JEO) (European Opportunities Trust PLC (LSE:JEO)), GreenX Metals Ltd (LSE:GRX, ASX:GRX) (GreenX Metals Ltd (LSE:GRX, ASX:GRX), GreenX Metals Ltd (LSE:GRX, ASX:GRX)), Litigation Capital Management Limited, McBride PLC (LSE:MCB) (McBride PLC (LSE:MCB)), Petra Diamonds PLC, Smiths Group (LSE:SMIN) (Smiths Group (LSE:SMIN)) PLC
Economic announcements: Consumer Price Index (UK), Producer Price Index (UK), Retail Price Index (UK), MBA Mortgage Applications, Import and Export Price Indices (US), Retail Sales (US), Industrial Production (US), Business Inventories (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US)
US earnings: Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) (Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO)), Nvidia