Tuesday preview: Reckitt, ARM in focus; much-awaited Chinese data out

20th Oct 2014 14:34

Quarterly reporting season in the UK is expected to get into full swing on Tuesday with a raft of blue-chip companies scheduled to release trading updates.Consumer-goods giant Reckitt Benckiser will be in focus as the company reports on how currency headwinds affected third-quarter trading.The Anglo-Dutch firm, famous for brands such as Nurofen, Durex and Cillit Bang, is expected to report sales (excluding its pharmaceuticals division) of $2.25bn for the three months to 30 September, down from $2.36bn the year before, as like-for-like sales growth of 4% is wiped off by FX movements.Microprocessor group ARM Holdings is also likely to garner some attention with its own results, which are expected to show that earnings rose to 24 cents a share in the third quarter, from 18 cents a year earlier. Revenues are forecast to have increased 11% to $329.4m.Go-Ahead, William Hill, ASOS, Devro, GKN, Intercontinental Hotels and Whitbread will also be reporting their own results.Chinese data due outOn the macroeconomic side of things, a raft of official Chinese statistics are scheduled for release first thing in the morning. These are to include the latest estimates for the country's rate of GDP growth, retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment. Stateside the main reference for traders will be the latest data on existing home sales in the US. Here, in the UK, all eyes will be on the latest tally of public sector borrowing. Tuesday October 21INTERIMSB.P. Marsh & Partners, WhitbreadFINALSASOSINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEKeywords Studios, Standard LifeINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSExisting Home Sales (US) (15:00)IMSSARM Holdings, Devro, GKN, Intercontinental Hotels, Go-Ahead Group, Reckitt Benckiser Group, William HillDRILLING REPORTPolymetal InternationalEGMSGlobal Investment House KSCC GDR (Reg S), Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)AGMSAshley House, Diverse Income Trust (The), Leeds Group, Myanmar Investments International Ltd, Seeing Machines Ltd.UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSPublic Sector Finances (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEMattioli Woods