Wednesday preview: Pre-Budget speech, Standard Chartered

8th Dec 2009 16:09

All eyes will be on Alistair Darling at 12.30pm Wednesday as the Chancellor starts his Pre-Budget Report.He's thought to have ruled out the giveaway route and will instead focus on recovery prospects and a measured plan to reduce Britain's debts.Previous forecasts that the UK economy will grow by 1.2% next year should be safe, say those in the know, but projections of contraction in 2009 may be revised downwards to 4.75% from 3.5% and borrowing could be revised up to £190bn.On the companies front, analysts at UBS expect Standard Chartered to issue a trading update in line with the message presented at a recent analyst trip.It said the trip underlined a bank confident of current trading and momentum into 2010. Spread betting firm IG Group issues an interim management statement covering the firm's second quarter, where it will be going up against tough comparatives. The firm has run into difficulties in Japan with its FXOnline offering and shareholders will be keen for an update on developments there.PZ Cussons, the maker of Imperial Leather soap, updates the market. It's one of only three UK companies to have raised their dividends every year for the past quarter of a century.Last month it named former Aviva boss Richard Harvey as its replacement for outgoing chairman Anthony Green, although he doesn't join the board until 1 January and won't be chairman until July.INTERIMSEckoh, Eredene Capital, Imagination Technologies, Micro Focus International Plc, NewRiver Retail Ltd. (Reg S), Stagecoach GroupINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE3i Group, AIM Distribution Trust, Brown (N.) Group, Brulines, Caffyns, Carphone Warehouse Group, Castings, Cyril Sweett, Dart Group, De La Rue, Electrocomponents, First Property Group, Foresight 4 VCT, Fuller Smith and Turner, Hogg Robinson, Hyder Consulting, Investec, Investment Company (The), Majestic Wine, May Gurney Integrated Services, MDM Engineering Group, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Northern 3 VCT, Octopus AIM VCT, Perpetual Income & Growth Inv Trust, Shanks Group, Sutton Harbour, Telecom Plus, TR Property Inv Trust, TR Property Inv Trust Sigma Shares, Utilico Emerging Markets Ltd., Value and Income Trust, Vedanta Resources, Ventus 1 VCT, Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus 3 VCT, VPQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATERoyal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B'QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEBritish Assets Trust, Land Securities Group, Queen's Walk Investment Ltd.INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (GER) (07:00)Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)Corporate Goods Price Index (JPN) (23:50)Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)Current Account (GER) (07:00)Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (EU) (07:00)MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (00:00)Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)FINALSATH Resources, CareTech HoldingEGMSAberdeen Growth VCT IAGMSAir Partner, Edinburgh Dragon Trust, Edinburgh Dragon Trust, IRP Property Investments, JPMorgan Elect Managed Cash Shares, JPMorgan Elect Managed Growth Shares, JPMorgan Elect Managed Income SharesTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSIG Group, PZ Cussons, Standard CharteredUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (09:30)BRC Shop Price Index (10:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBlackRock Greater Europe Inv TrustFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEAberdeen Asset Management, AI Claims Solutions, Bellway, British Empire Securities & General Trust, Centaur Media, F&C Capital & Income Inv Trust, F&C Commercial Property Trust, Genus, Henderson Diversified Income Ltd., Local Shopping REIT, Noble Investments, Numis Corporation, Sportingbet, SVM Global Fund, Trading Emissions, Waterman Group