Thursday preview: Barrage of FTSE 100 companies unveils results

30th Jan 2013 15:53

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. 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.FINALSAstraZeneca 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 GroupQ4Kcell Joint Stock Co GDR (Reg S)Royal Dutch Shell 'A' Royal Dutch Shell 'B'TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSGem Diamonds Ltd. (DI)IMSBrewin Dolphin Holdings Enterprise Inns SSEAGMArtilium Enterprise Inns Euromoney Institutional InvestorITE GroupJPMorgan Asian Inv Trust Lonmin Mitchells & Butlers Weather Lottery (The)EGMAlpha Bank GDR (Reg S) USDFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlternative NetworksEuropean Investment TrustLowland Investment CoScottish Oriental Smaller Companies TrustTopps TilesWH SmithINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlbion Income & Growth VCTF&C Global Smaller CompaniesJupiter Second Split Trust Geared Gwth SharesSPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEEuropean Investment TrustQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE British Assets TrustF&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd.JP Morgan Chase & CoMiddlefield Canadian Income PCCINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance 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