Spotlight falls on M&S with profit drop expected
The high street will be under particular scrutiny as Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland attempts to put the brightest possible dress on a third successive drop in annual profits.
And with SSE and United Utilities both reporting, the power and water industries will face a fresh wave of scrutiny.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, economists think there is a realistic chance that already strong GDP growth of 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year could be revised up a notch, while the first public finance figures of the new financial year should show some improvement in the borrowing rate.
WEEK AHEAD
Monday
• Babcock International – Full–year results from the defence contractor will give an indication of how far recent contract wins have dented its order pipeline.
Tuesday
• Vodafone – Tough competition across Europe will be felt in Vodafone’s annual results presentation, with the City expecting profits to fall to £12.9 billion, from £13.6bn a year earlier.
• Inflation – The core CPI measure is expected to have held at around 1.6 per cent.
Wednesday
• SSE – The Perth–based firm’s annual results should show a rise in profits, but analysts will want to know if its self–imposed price freeze has affected business.
Thursday
• Marks & Spencer – Profits are set to fall to around £615 million, from £665m.
• Scottish Engineering – The group’s annual dinner takes place in Glasgow.
• Commonwealth Games – Scottish business leaders meet at Aggreko’s Dumbarton base to start the firm’s campaign to build a legacy for the Games.
Friday
• HSBC – The banking giant holds its annual meeting.