Thursday preview: UK retail sales, US initial jobless claims, Unilever

22nd Jul 2015 16:25

(ShareCast News) - UK retail sales figures on Thursday are expected to show a 5.1% increase in June compared to a year ago as lower fuel prices give consumers more spending power.Analysts predict retail sales, including auto fuel, climbed 4.8% in June.On a month-on-month basis, the forecast is for a 0.4% rise for in retail sales for both including and excluding auto fuel.The report is an important measure of consumer spending, contributing to gross domestic product growth.Any improvements are likely to fuel speculation of an earlier than estimated interest rate hike after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney last week indicated a possible increase later this year.Meanwhile, the US sees the release of weekly jobless claims data. The consensus forecast is for a slight dip to 280,000 in the week to 18 July from 281,000 the previous week.The US Federal Reserve is keeping a close watch on the jobs market as it considers the timing of an interest rate hike.Company-wise Unilever reports its second quarter interims. Numis predicts underlying sales growth of 2.2%," a true +2.6%after allowing for the unwinding of the early Easter boost seen in the first quarter"."Fx translation movements added 10.6% to the top line in Q1, and we have assumed a near similar effect in Q2, reflecting the strength of the US$ versus the that Unilever reports in the surge in the US$ is more than offsetting emerging market currency devaluations," said Charles Pick, analyst at Numis.The broker sees pre-tax profit of €3.6bn, compared to €3.2bn the previous year.Thursday 23 July INTERIMSBreedon Aggregates Ltd., Howden Joinery Group, Jarvis Securities, Public Joint Stock Company Severstal GDR (Reg S), Reed ElsevierINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEHeavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited , Shoe ZoneQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEFair Oaks Income Fund LimitedINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Confidence Indicator (EU) (10:00)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)Leading Indicators (US) (15:00)Q2Public Joint Stock Company Severstal GDR (Reg S), Shire PlcGMSElegant Hotels Group , Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings), Thor MiningIMSSEuromoney Institutional InvestorAGMSBahamas Petroleum Co, Bilby, Bloomsbury Publishing, De La Rue, Dee Valley Group, Electrocomponents, F&C Global Smaller Companies, Grand Group Investment (DI), Green Dragon Gas Ltd. (DI), Halma, Land Securities Group, Messaging International, MobilityOne Ltd., Mothercare, Personal Assets Trust, Premier Foods, Record, Royal Mail, SABMiller, Shanks Group, SSE, ULS Technology , Urals Energy Public Co Ltd. (DI), Vertu MotorsTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSElectrocomponents, Kingfisher, Premier Foods, SABMillerUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBBA Mortgage Lending Figures (09:30)Internet Retail Sales (09:30)Retail Sales (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBig Yellow Group, DCC, Home Retail Group, PayPointFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEBlue Planet Investment Trust, Bond International Software, Development Securities, GB Group, Heath (Samuel) & Sons, Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings, Mountview Estates, Scapa Group, SSE, Telecom Plus