Market awaits refreshing news from global giants

GROWTH in emerging markets has been a key theme for fast-moving consumer goods in recent years, with Scotland’s whisky distillers toasting success in Africa, Asia and South America.

PG Tips is among the wellknown household brands produced by Unilever. Picture: Reuters

Trading figures this week from brewing giant SABMiller and consumer goods conglomerates PZ Cussons and Unilever will give the latest insight into the effect that currency fluctuations in emerging markets are having on sales and profits.

Closer to home, Carphone Warehouse and WH Smith will be among the final high street names to deliver their Christmas trading updates, with Irn-Bru maker AG Barr and brewer Marston’s expected to be toasting their festive figures.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Today

• Germany – The producers’ prices index for Europe’s biggest economy will give an early indication not just of eurozone inflation figures but also of possible interest rate changes on the continent.

• Conviviality Retail – The company behind 611 Bargain Booze and Wine Rack off licences in England and Wales toasts its maiden interim results since joining the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) in July.

Tuesday

• Treasury committee – Former NBNK chairman Lord Levene and ex–NBNK chief executive Gary Hoffman give evidence to MPs as part of their inquiry into the collapse of Lloyds Banking Group’s deal to sell its “Project Verde” branches to the Co–operative.

• SABMiller – Third–quarter sales at the maker of lagers including Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni are forecast to have been hit by a slowdown in China, Columbia and South Africa.

• Unilever – Full–year results from the maker of Wall’s ice cream, PG Tips tea and Lynx deodorant are predicted to show a further squeeze from currency fluctuations in certain emerging markets.

• PZ Cussons – The consumer products group is expected to have benefited from model Kate Moss advertising its St Tropez fake tan brand.

• Carphone Warehouse – The mobile phone retailer rings up its third–quarter trading data.

• Marston’s – The maker of beers including Cumberland Ale, Hobgoblin and Pedigree holds its annual general meeting and serves up its Christmas trading update, which Numis Securities analyst Douglas Jack expects to show it has been one of the winners during the festive season.

Wednesday

• Davos – The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting gets under way in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, with business, economic and political leaders meeting until Saturday to discuss the “reshaping” of the global economy.

• Bank of England – Minutes from the monetary policy committee’s latest meeting will give an insight into how falling unemployment is affecting policymakers’ thinking on interest rates.

• WH Smith – Shares in the retailer have hit all–time highs recently as the market expects the firm’s Christmas trading update to show it was one of the high street’s winners over the festive season.

• Land Securities – The owner of the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow and the Overgate site in Dundee posts its third–quarter trading update.

Thursday

• EasyJet – The budget airline is expected to shrug off the cost of the power cut at Gatwick airport over Christmas when it posts its first–quarter trading update.

• AG Barr – The maker of Irn–Bru is expected to emerge as one of the winners from the cut–throat soft drinks price war over Christmas.

Friday

• LSE – Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, will tell an event at Edinburgh University organised by the Asia Scotland Institute that small businesses should shun bank lending in favour of longer–term investors.