A Brief Look At The Week Ahead

It looks like being another slow week for news with few of the blue chips slated to publish figures. On Tuesday, there will be a lot of interest in how InterContinental Hotel Group views the way ahead in the wake of the latest terror crisis. The group's shares have drifted in the past few months, from a high of 1,005p to 835p, on worries over how its US business is doing. US consumers have been going through a belt-tightening exercise in response to rising oil prices and fears of higher interest rates. Analysts think the fall has been overdone, pointing out that only 15% of InterContinental's revenue is derived from the US. Morgan Stanley is expecting solid interim results, with profits up 24% to around 100m. As well as being expected to give a view on the security clampdown, management will be quizzed over a number of issues, including its policy on further cash returns to investors and whether it might expand through acquisition. On the same day, housebuilder, Persimmon, is expected to deliver a strong set of interim results but attention will be firmly focused on the current strength of demand from buyers. The firm recently released a trading update saying it had sold more units than expected: 8,000 at an average price of 188,000 against predictions of 7,700. This triggered a round of upgrades among brokers. UBS lifted its first-half profits estimate from 250m to 262m, while Merrill Lynch, is retaining a buy recommendation and looking for profits of around 254m. Wednesday sees BHP Billiton produce full-year results. The mining giant has benefited from the boom in commodity prices, and this week's numbers are set to show this continuing. However, investors are likely to be more concerned about Escondida. The Chilean copper mine, the world's biggest and majority owned by BHP, has been hit by strike action, which is reportedly costing Escondida $16m a day in net profit. BHP said last Friday that it had called off talks and shut down the mine after workers blocked all roads to the site. Copper prices then jumped. The world's biggest bookmaker, Ladbrokes, can expect a grilling over its overseas expansion plans when it reports interim figures on Thursday. Brokers believe it is endeavouring to offer a fully integrated gaming service - online, offline, casinos and bingo - and HSBC thinks it "could make substantial acquisitions to achieve this", with names such as Rank and Stanley Leisure in the frame. First-half profits should come in at around 139m. Stagecoach holds its AGM on Friday. It is a crucial time for the transport group, as it waits to hear whether its major rail franchise, South West Trains, will be renewed; it could find out as early as next month. Investors will want to know what's next now that Stagecoach has agreed to sell its London bus business. Analysts are particularly keen to find out if it intends to fill the hole with either bolt-on acquisitions or an all-out merger. Amongst others in the spotlight this week are :- Brambles and Bodycote on Tuesday; Slough Estates on Wednesday; Rentokil and Rexam on Thursday. I hope you find some suitable trades there.... Good hunting! Greystone (Greystone is Alan English, City Editor at MoneyAM.)

Good morning traders!

In Asia today, the Hang Seng ended the morning down 320.76 points at 17,009.94, a rise in interest rates in China the main cause.

The Nikkei was recently at 15,995.32, down 110.66 points.

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for September delivery, was at $71.50 a barrel, up 36 cents from its close of $71.14 in the US Friday.

Happy trading!

G.

Morning all.

Good day.

Good morning all

UPS (Added by Master RSI on Mon 21 Aug 09:05 am)

CSH - Mid 13.75p
Reason -- Rising since last Friday after a long drift, TA is positive short term as is MMs going blue again today

Midday Market Summary

       LUNCH TIME FUN

MRP 18.75 - 19.50P +1p

performing well since last week

Today chart is pretty clear the Head & Shoulders pattern

Some small oils are on the move up, following chart direction

CSH 14 - 15p +1p



VOG 93.25p +3.25p

"UPS" (Added by Master RSI on Mon 21 Aug 03:51 pm)

GTL - Mid 2.35p
Reason -The L2 is improving to 4 v 1 on good buys today after last Thursday large volume, indicators and TA ready for the turn, oil and Ethanol on the rise today

Charts - intraday

End-of-day Market Roundup