Wednesday preview: Investors seeking contract news from G4S

12th Aug 2014 17:20

Investors will be looking for news of UK government deals when security group G4S reports half-year results on Wednesday.Doubts have hung over G4S's ability to win state contracts since the company failed to provide enough security staff for the 2012 London Olympics and faced allegations of overcharging for prisoner tagging.Shareholders are also likely to want a progress update on possible disposals and the company's strategic review.Broker Hargreaves Lansdown said: "Plans to sell further businesses could be announced, whilst news of any contract wins for its still significant customer, the UK government, would likely prove well received by investors. In all, analyst consensus opinion currently points towards a hold."Broker Brewin Dolphin is hoping for signs that UK motor insurance prices are regaining their poise when Admiral posts half-year results on Wednesday.The broker said: "In its trading update on 9 July, Admiral reported signs that premiums are no longer falling but have not yet begun to grow. We expect a decent dividend and special dividend in line with the past few years."Wednesday August 13INTERIMSAdmiral Group, Balfour Beatty, Capital & Regional, G4S, Lookers, Michael Page International, MirLand Development Corporation, Plus500 (DI), Sampo OYJ, TBC Bank Joint Stock Company GDR (REGS), Telecom Egypt SAE GDS (Regs)INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE4Imprint Group, AstraZeneca, BG Group, Countrywide, CSR, Direct Line Insurance Group, Dragon Oil, Ferrexpo, GKN, Greencoat UK Wind, IMI, Informa, Keller Group, Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate , Law Debenture Corp., LSL Property Services, Man Group, Meggitt, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Pearson, Rentokil Initial, Rio Tinto, RM, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Standard Chartered, Telecity Group, VesuviusQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEBlackrock North American Income Trust , MedicX Fund Ltd., Picton Property Income Ltd, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B', TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBusiness Inventories (US) (13:30)Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)Manufacturing Inventories (US) (15:00)MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)Retail Sales (US) (13:45)Retail Sales Inventories (US) (15:15)Q2Telecom Egypt SAE GDS (Regs)SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECountrywide, Direct Line Insurance Group, Fresnillo, LSL Property ServicesEGMSPJSC Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port GDR (Reg S)AGMSAfrican Minerals Ltd., Doriemus, Mountview Estates, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC LtdUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBoE Inflation Report (09:30)Claimant Count Rate (09:30)Unemployment Rate (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEMontanaro UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Speedy HireFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEAshtead Group, BT Group, Casdon plc, Diageo, Greene King, Hayward Tyler Group, Iomart Group, Latchways, Mulberry Group, New Century AIM VCT, Newmark Security PLC, Northgate, PZ Cussons, Sweett Group