Wednesday preview: UK GDP, US home sales, ITV annual results

25th Feb 2014 15:13

UK economic growth grew by 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics is expected to confirm on Wednesday.The report follows preliminary estimates for gross domestic product (GDP) which also showed year-on-year growth of 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Later on in the US will be the release of new home sales, which are anticipated to have fallen 3.4% in January, compared to a 7% drop in December. The earnings session will be jammed packed early on with annual results from ITV, Petrofac, Taylor Wimpey, CSR, Weir and Direct Line.In its third quarter update, ITV indicated that full-year 2013 net advertising revenue (NAR) would be up 2%. The owner of the UK TV station is expected to announce a special dividend to investors."We believe the likelihood of a special dividend this year is evenly balanced, and in our view it is likely to depend on the pipeline of Studios acquisitions," Numis said on Tuesday, issuing a 'buy' rating for the stock. "We currently forecast a 2014 NAR growth of 4% and view this as conservative due to the World Cup boost and improving UK economy."Wednesday February 26thINTERIMSAnimalcare Group, Asian Citrus Holding, Avingtrans, Clinigen Group, Hays, The Renewables Infrastructure Group LimitedINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEBluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, Carclo, Diageo, Heath (Samuel) & Sons, Mobeus Income & Growth 2 Vct, Stewart & WightQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEMerchants TrustQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATECanadian General Investments Ltd., Energy XXI (Bermuda) (DI), Real Estate Credit Investments PCC LtdINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBudget Statement (US) (19:00)Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)Q4CSRFINALSCSR, Direct Line Insurance Group, EKF Diagnostics Holdings , Greggs, Henderson Group, International Personal Finance, ITV, Microgen, Molins, Petrofac Ltd., Quarto Group Inc., Restaurant Group, SEGRO, Synectics, Taylor Wimpey, Travis Perkins, Vitec Group, Weir GroupIMSSStagecoach GroupSPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBeazley, easyJet, Independent Inv Trust, Masawara, Playtech, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Capital Shares, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Income SharesAGMSBankers Inv Trust, Gooch & Housego, LED International Holdings Ltd (DI)UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSGDP (output, income & expenditure) (09:30)Index of Services (09:30)FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEArden Partners, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, easyJet, Henderson Value Trust, Independent Inv Trust, LPA Group, Playtech, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Capital Shares, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Income Shares, Treatt, ZytronicRD