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
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