Thursday preview: Barrage of FTSE 100 companies unveil results

FTSE 100 companies are set to storm Thursday with a wave of financial results.

UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will unveil its full-year statements. The drug company is expected to show a slump in revenues due to patent expirations.

However, investors will be keen to hear what Astra's new Chief Executive Pascal Soriot says about the company's outlook.

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They will also be closely watching full-year results from oil and gas company Royal Dutch Shell. Consensus forecasts see a 4.0% increase in earnings per share and revenues of £281bn.

The company was making headlines Wednesday as a court threw out a lawsuit brought by a group of Nigerian farmers over an oil leak, claiming local subsidiary Shell Nigeria was solely responsible.

Broadcaster and broadband group British Sky Broadcasting Group also releases its first half results with analysts expecting good cash generation and operational delivery. Sales are expected to rise 4.6% to £3,517m helped by price rises and wholesale strength.

Speaking last week ahead of the results, Investec reiterated its 'buy' rating for the stock, saying that its valuation looks at the low end against the wider UK media sector.

"While pay TV sub growth remains modest, total product sales, and triple play/economies of scale boost overall sales, margin and earnings," Investec said.

FINALS

AstraZeneca

Hiwave Technologies

Kcell Joint Stock Co GDR (Reg S)

Royal Dutch Shell 'A'

Royal Dutch Shell 'B'

INTERIMS

British Sky Broadcasting Group

Haynes Publishing Group

Hillshire Brands Company (The)

Rank Group

Q4

Kcell Joint Stock Co GDR (Reg S)

Royal Dutch Shell 'A'

Royal Dutch Shell 'B'

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI)

IMS

Brewin Dolphin Holdings

Enterprise Inns

SSE

AGM

Artilium

Enterprise Inns

Euromoney Institutional Investor

ITE Group

JPMorgan Asian Inv Trust

Lonmin

Mitchells & Butlers

Weather Lottery (The)

EGM

Alpha Bank GDR (Reg S) USD

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alternative Networks

European Investment Trust

Lowland Investment Co

Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust

Topps Tiles

WH Smith

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Albion Income & Growth VCT

F&C Global Smaller Companies

Jupiter Second Split Trust Geared Gwth Shares

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

European Investment Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

British Assets Trust

F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd.

JP Morgan Chase & Co

Middlefield Canadian Income PCC

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Payments (GER) (07:00)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)

International Reserves (EU) (11:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

Chicago PMI (US) (13:45)

Bloomberg Consumer Confidence (US) (14:45)

RD