Thursday preview: BSkyB and Weir set to release figures

30th Apr 2014 15:55

Thursday will see another raft of corporates updating investors on their most recent performance, including heavyweights such as Lloyds and also Rolls Royce, Schroders, Weir Group and BG.Oil services outfit Weir will provide its first quarter IMS which is expected to show robust trading which builds upon the momentum seen in the latter half of 2013, Numis Securities says. The better performance should be underpinned by recent order activity although it will likely be offset by an approximate 8% currency headwind, the broker added. Questions at the investor/analyst conference are likely to focus around the rejected Metso merger proposal and future plans which the company might have.BskyB will also update markets tomorrow. Analysts at Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley (MS), respectively, forecast broadband additions of 80,000 and 70,000, down from 152,000 in the same quarter last year and compared to 110,000-119,000 in the last three quarters. Morgan Stanley forecasts that net income will be down 10% but the impact of the recent share buybacks means the broker's earnings per share (EPS) estimate for the quarter is for a 7.5% fall year-on-year to 14.3p, with a 5.4% fall estimated for the full year.At Deutsche analysts have cut 2014 expected earnings per share (EPS) 3% but left its 2015 figures intact.All of the above will come in the aftermath of Wednesday's statement from the US Federal Open Market Committee. Also to watch out for will be the latest manufacturing sector survey data due to be released in China. The German, French and Spanish bourses will remain closed in observance of Labour Day. Thursday May 1stFINALSBrown (N.) GroupIMSSHowden Joinery Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), Rolls-Royce Holdings, RPS Group, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Synthomer, Weir GroupSPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATENext, Plus500 Ltd (DI)EGMSSirius Real Estate Ltd.AGMSAga Rangemaster Group, Alkane Energy, Alliance Trust, ARM Holdings, Core VCT, Core VCT 'B' Shares, Core VCT IV, Core VCT V, European Real Estate Inv Trust Ltd. Part Pref, Fisher (James) & Sons, GKN, Greggs, Henderson Group, Johnson Service Group, JPMorgan Private Equity Ltd USD Equity Shares, Kerry Group 'A' Shares, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Robinson, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Synthomer, Weir GroupUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Credit (09:30)M4 Money Supply (09:30)M4 Sterling Lending (09:30)Mortgage Approvals (09:30)PMI Manufacturing (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDragon Oil, Foreign and Colonial Inv Trust, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Plus500 Ltd (DI)Q1BG Group, First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Lancashire Holdings Limited, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Shire Plc, Smith & Nephew, Wolfson MicroelectronicsAB