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A Brief Look At The Week Ahead | |
A batch of economic data should provide a clearer picture of future interest rate movements this week. Investec economist Philip Shaw said that the Bank of England's inflation report for January, to be published on Wednesday, will be a "key gauge" as to when it will next raise rates. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey that night is expected to provide further evidence that the booming housing market is cooling. Mutual fund giant Amvescap will again have to address the persistent rumours that the group could be taken over on Tuesday. The latest supposed predator is said to be financial services rival Man Group, though Martin Flanagan, Amvescap's CEO, is not likely to comment. Rather, he will focus on the numbers, which are expected to go in the opposite direction to those produced by F&C Asset Management. Amvescap, which manages global funds worth around $440bn under the AIM and Invesco brand names, is expected to reveal net asset inflow and increased operating margins and profits. Bradford & Bingley will also come under scrutiny on Tuesday when it unveils its final results. Broker Charles Stanley is expecting the lender to report 310m in pre-tax profits, though analysts will want some answers from the CEO on credit quality. The company's exposure to specialist lending via self-certified mortgages and buy-to-let loans is higher than most in the sector. The City will want reassurance that loans in arrears have continued to fall, as detailed by B&B in a trading statement in December. Car and air-conditioner parts maker, Tomkins, reports annual results on Thursday and, on the same day, Reed Elsevier will hope to burnish its image with good final results. The company, dragged down by its education division, disappointed the City in a trading statement last November. It will be tough to meet its pledge of 10% annual earnings growth. Amongst others in the spotlight this week will be St Modwen Properties on Monday; British Land on Tuesday and Pendragon and Diageo on Thursday. Good hunting! Greystone PS Special thanks to Supermum for breaking into a holiday to send in her chart view. (Greystone is Alan English, City Editor at MoneyAM.) |
DOO price 159.375p | Rising volume since Thursday 7 times the usual and 4 times on Friday | Completed a BREAKOUT last Friday from a double bottom, this gives confirmation of a new trend UPTREND | Dresdner Kleinwort started coverage with a BUY recomendation last week - The company added that it is still in talks to sell a "substantial but not controlling" stake in the company wouldhelp it "accelerate significantly the roll out of its business plan" | Biodiesel has been popular again lately as the oil price went over $60 - Planting plans of jatropha for 2007 are on track an increase of 10,000 hectares from end-Sept |