AIB becomes the first of the leading Irish stocks to report interim results when it releases its figures for the six months to June 30th, 1998 on Wednesday.
The results are expected to show strong growth across the board with year-on-year comparisons benefitting from a full six-month contribution from WBK, the Polish bank in which AIB has a 60 per cent stake, and Dauphin Deposit Corporation. The £840 million acquisition of the US bank was not completed until July 1997 so it did not contribute to first-half profits last year.
Analysts are expecting pre-tax profits of around £350 million, a 44.5 per cent increase on the £242.2 million recorded in the first half of 1997. Earnings per share are forecast to rise to 26.5 pence from 22.3 pence a year earlier, a 19 per cent increase.
MondayResults: Anglo & Overseas(H1), HSBC Holdings(H1), Ultra Electronics(H1), Filtronic, Mid Wynd Inter, Spring Group, Pearson (H1), ASM International (H1).
A.G.M.: Dalkeith Inns, Flare Group (also e.g.m.), Stoddard Sekers, GB Railways (e.g.m.).
Meetings: Indonesia's Central Bank governor to hold private meeting with Bank of England governor, Eddie George.
Indicators: UK Money Supply (Jul,Y/Y), US Personal Income (June), US Personal Spend (June), US Purchasing Managers (Jul).
Others: Commerzbank news conference on euro. Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply's July manufacturing survey.
Tuesday
Results: British Petroleum(Q2), Croda International(H1), General Accident(H1), Linden(H1), Mayflower Corp(H1), Rank Group(H1), Aim Group, KLM (Q1), Natwest (H1), Julius Baer Holding (H1).
A.G.M.: Compco Holdings, Lepco.
Indicators: UK Official Reserves (Jul), US Lead Indicators (Jun), Japanese Household Spend (Jun,Y/Y)
Wednesday
Results: AIB Group(H1), Cadbury Schweppes(H1), GKN(H1), Inspec Group(H1), Transport Development Group(H1), Glynwed International (H1), Standard Chartered (H1), Woolwich (H1), Stewart & Wight, Den norske Bank (H1), Christiania Bank og Kreditkasse (H1).
A.G.M.: European Colour.
Meetings: British monetary meeting (to August 6th).
Indicators: UK Industrial Production (June,Y/Y), UK Manufacturing Output (June), US Purchasing Managers (Manuf) (Jul), Italian Consumer Price Index (Jul,Y/Y)
Thursday
Results: Barclays(H1), Elementis(H1), Group Trust(H1), KBC Advanced(H1), Shell(Q2), Zeneca(H1), Telewest Communications(H1), Zeneca (H1), Reed-Elsevier(H1), Tetra.
A.G.M.: Bradford Property, Feedback, Kleinwort Emerging, James Latham, Staveley Industries, Jones Group (e.g.m.).
Indicators: CBI Distribution Trends, German Unemployment (Jul).
Others: IBEC strategy statement on enterprise policy.
Friday
Results: Alliance & Leicester(H1), Infobank International Holdings(H1), Unilever (Q2).
A.G.M.: Avesco, DBS Management, Intelek.
Indicators: US Non-farm Payrolls (Jul), US Consumer Credit.
