Week ahead: Marks & Spencer, Next, Hays

31st Dec 2009 12:10

There will be some notable announcements to look out for next weeks as traders return to their desks following the Christmas and New Year's break.On Wednesday, retailers Marks and Spencer and Next will release trading updates, which should also include figures for the holiday period.Millions of shoppers hit the High Street in the last couple of week of the year. Sales have soared in the post-Christmas rush as shoppers took advantage of deep discounts ahead of the VAT rate increase on January 1. Many retailers will delay raising the VAT rate but Marks & Spencer has already said it will implement the increase immediately on general merchandise and from January 11 on food products.Online sales will also be in focus, especially for Next - the biggest online sales retailer in the UK.Other major announcements out next week include Domino Pizza, Hays, Michael Page and Rank Group.Monday January 04INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAmec, Bunzl, Fuller Smith and Turner, Headlam Group, Homeserve, Next, Slingsby H.C, Telecom PlusQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATETorchmark CorpEGMSIFG Group, Interactive Prospect Targeting HoldingsFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEA&J Mucklow, The Directors Dealing Inv Trust, Town Centre SecuritiesTuesday January 05INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDee Valley Group, Dee Valley Nv, Great Portland Estates, London Stock Exchange Group, Whitbread, WincantonAGMSCarr's Milling IndustriesTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSCRHFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEFreshwater UKWednesday January 06INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlbion Protected VCT, Albion Venture Capital Trust, Bodycote, BSS Group, Hogg Robinson, Sutton Harbour, VPINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEAveva Group, Burberry Group, Dairy Crest Group, FirstGroup, Halma, ICAP, Monks Inv Trust, Mothercare, Northern Foods, Rensburg Sheppards, Speedy Hire, United CarpetsQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEInvestors Capital Trust 'A' Shares, Investors Capital Trust 'B' SharesEGMS1pm, White Young GreenTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSMarks & Spencer, Domino Pizza, NextFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAI Claims Solutions, Lancashire HoldingsFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEATH Resources, Baring Emerging Europe, Baronsmead AIM VCT, Character Group, Dewhurst, Dewhurst 'A', Education Development International, Gartmore European Inv Trust, Henderson High Income Trust, ITE Group, JPMorgan Asian Inv Trust, Majedie Investments, Murray International Trust, Next Fifteen Communications, RM Group, SatCom Group, Shires Smaller Companies Trust, Smiths News, Superglass Holdings, WH SmithThursday January 07INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBritish Smaller Companies VCT, Caledonia Investments, Hill and Smith, Sepura, Vedanta ResourcesQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEGlaxoSmithKlineEGMSIntegra Group GDR (Reg S)AGMSSolo OilTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSHaysFriday January 08INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBrown (N.) Group, Caffyns, Carphone Warehouse Group, Castings, Investment Company (The), JD Sports Fashion, Laird, Majestic Wine, Marks & Spencer Group, May Gurney Integrated Services, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Northern Investors Co., Sainsbury (J), Tate & Lyle, Value and Income TrustQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEBritish Assets Trust, Queen's Walk Investment Ltd.EGMSDiamondcorpTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSMichael Page International, RAB Capital, Rank GroupFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAssociated British Foods, British Empire Securities & General Trust, Downing Protected VCT IV, Downing Protected VCT V, Genus, Noble Investments, Sportingbet