Week Ahead: Astra, BSkyB, Ericsson, Nokia

22nd Jan 2010 07:01

AstraZeneca, one of the top ten UK companies by market value, releases fourth quarter and full year results on Thursday, when it will have to deliver on the increased profit expectations it announced at the end of October. Astra guided to mid to high single-digit sales growth at constant exchange rate for the full-year, and upgraded core earnings per share to $6.20-6.40 from $5.70-6.00 previously. It said the outlook for the rest of 2009 has been boosted by the withdrawal of generic products for Toprol-XL, additional orders for the H1N1 influenza vaccine, and the release of a provision within cost of sales that further benefited.Since then, there have been reports of governments cutting back on H1N1 influenza vaccine. AstraZeneca had $152m of swine flu nasal spray sales in the third quarter and had projected to make a further $300m from the vaccine in the fourth quarter.On the positive side, the fourth quarter saw the company come to an accommodation with Israel-based rival Teva Pharmaceuticals over the latter's generic version of Astra's Nexium ulcer capsules, and made regulatory progress with some of its drugs, including its bipolar disorder treatment Seroquel, which the US Food and Drug Administration approved for use in conjunction with antidepressants to treat major depressive disorder.Pay TV and Internet service provider British Sky Broadcating weathered the recession better than most, but it has been doing less well in the courts, after its latest appeal over the forced sale of most of its stake in ITV was rejected.Newspaper reports suggested the company may give up the legal battle, cut its losses and sell the shares soon, in order to end the long running saga and enable investors to focus on the merits of the company again.On the international scene, mobile phone giants Ericsson and Nokia both issue results next week. Though the two companies dominate the mobile phone market, investors will be less interested in how they have fared against each other and more concerned with their response to the growing threat from Apple and Google.Monday January 25INTERIMSCity of London Investment Group, FiltronicINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEHalfords Group, MS InternationalQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEHenderson Global Property Companies Ltd.INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBoJ Intrest Rates (JPN) (00:00)Producer Price Index(AUS) (00:00)GMSLees FoodsANNUAL REPORTSinclair (William) HoldingsEGMSA&D Pharma Holding GDR (Reg S), EMED Mining Public LdAGMSAlternative Networks, Artemis AiM VCT, JPMorgan Indian Inv TrustFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEF&C Eurotrust, James HalsteadTuesday January 26INTERIMSAshley House, PZ CussonsINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECarpathian, RPC GroupINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (EU) (10:00)Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)Consumer Spending (FRA) (07:45)IfO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)IfO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)IfO Expectations (GER) (09:00)Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00)House Price Index (US) (15:00)Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (US) (15:00)Corporate Service Price Index (JPN) (23:50)Bank of Japan Target Rate (JPN) Small Business Confidence (JPN)Current Account (EU) (09:00)Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)FINALSPorvairAGMSDiscover Leisure, Next Fifteen Communications, Schroder UK Mid & Small Cap Fund, Siemens AGTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSIntermediate Capital Group, Playtech, SageUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSGDP (Preliminary) (09:30)Nationwide House PricesFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlternative NetworksWednesday January 27INTERIMSBest of the Best, Renishaw, System C Healthcare INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBrulinesINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEAnite Group, DS Smith, Hartest Holdings, IG Group Holdings, NCC GroupQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEStobart Group IncQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEEquity Partnership Income Shares, Quorum Oil and Gas Technology Fund Ltd.INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Price Index(AUS) (00:00)FOMC Interest Rate (US) (19:15)New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)Consumer Confidence Indicator (FRA) (07:45)Consumer Prices Index (GER) Jobseekers Net Change (FRA) (18:00)Retail Sales (JPN) UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSCBI Distributive Trades Survey (11:00)Q3Indian Hotels GDR (Reg S)FINALSGalleon HoldingsEGMSAl EZZ Steel Rebars GDS (Reg S), Global MENA Financial Assets Ltd.AGMSBritvic, Capcon Holdings, Finsbury Growth & Income Trust, Petmin, Standard Life European Private Equity Trust, Tracsis, WH SmithTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSBritvic, Gottex Market Neutral Trust Ltd., Tullow Oil, Vedanta Resources, WH SmithFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlbemarle & Bond, ATH Resources, Majedie InvestmentsFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEBritish Portfolio Trust, City Merchants High Yield Trust, Compass Group, Jupiter Dividend & Growth Trust, Shaftesbury, SpaceandPeople, TreattThursday January 28INTERIMSBritish Sky Broadcasting Group, EagaQUARTERLIESTate & LyleFINALSAstraZenecaINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDairy Crest Group, Solid State, United CarpetsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSChicago Fed National Activity (US) (13:30)Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)Weekly Jobless Claims (13:30)Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)Economic Confidence (EU) (10:00)Service Sector Confidence (EU) (10:00)PMI Retail (EU) (09:00)PMI Retail (GER) (08:55)Jobless Rate (JPN)Household Spending (JPN)Consumer Prices Index (JPN)IMSSFindel, Hansen Transmissions InternationalAGMSArmour Group, Dewhurst, Dewhurst 'A', Intandem Films, ITE Group, Lonmin, Mitchells & Butlers, WichfordTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSJJB Sports, Tribal GroupUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSPMI Retail (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAberdeen Asset Management, Baronsmead AIM VCTFriday January 29INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEArtemis Alpha Trust, Atkins (WS), Dart Group, Experian Group, F&C Global Smaller Companies, Foresight 3 VCT, Greene King, IFG Group, Micro Focus International Plc, Monks Inv Trust, Northern Foods, Northumbrian Water Group, Schroder UK Growth Fund, Sky HighQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEHenderson Financial Opportunities Limited, Schroder Income Growth FundINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBoJ Interest Rates Minutes (JPN) (23:50)Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)Consumer Price Index (JPN) (23:30)Employment Cost Index (US) (13:30)U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)Consumer Prices Indices estimate (EC) (10:00)Q3ToshibaFINALSSafestoreAGMSCaledonian Trust, Marston'sUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSGFK Consumer Confidence (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBlackRock Commodities Income Inv Trust, Character Group, Education Development International, F&C Commercial Property Trust, Gartmore European Inv Trust, Henderson High Income Trust, JPMorgan Income & Capital Inv Trust, Puma VCT I, Puma VCT II, SatCom Group, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Schroder UK Mid & Small Cap Fund, Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust, Shires Smaller Companies Trust, Standard Life European Private Equity Trust