Week ahead: Executive pay and bonuses top agendas

Pay and bonuses are almost certain to find their way onto the agenda when financial giants Lloyds Banking Group and Standard Life hold their annual meetings this week.

Sir Bill Gammell can anticipate reverential last annual meeting. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The pair have both chosen Edinburgh’s international conference centre for their AGMs, and following Lloyds’ solid progress management will be well placed to field the inevitable questions.

So it may be Standard Life bosses who find themselves blushing as the roles are reversed and the investment firm, which has led the way in challenging remuneration reports at the companies it holds stakes in, is questioned on its own generous pay policy.

But at Cairn Energy’s AGM, outgoing chairman Sir Bill Gammell can surely expect an easy ride as investors were handsomely rewarded during his tenure at the driller.

WEEK AHEAD

Today

• Centrica – The Scottish Gas owner will be the first of a number of blue-chip companies to hold its annual meeting this week.

Tomorrow

• EasyJet – The Luton-based carrier now expects its winter loss to be lower than its original guidance, at between £55 million and £65m.

• TUI Travel – Half-year numbers will likely match last year’s £346m loss.

Wednesday

• Unemployment – With all the signs pointing to economic growth, there are hopes the jobless rate will have fallen further from the 6.9 per cent last recorded.

Thursday

• Thomas Cook – The market is expecting a slight rise in summer bookings.

• Marston’s – The pub chain and brewer is expected to show signs of solid growth at the interim stage as it continues to invest in pubs that serve food.

Friday

• Janet Yellen – The Fed boss is due to address the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington.