While the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on DIRT has produced general discomfort within the banking sector, this week three financial institutions should be able to set their troubles to one side for a time and luxuriate in healthy interim results.
ACCBank and NatWest subsidiary Ulster Bank deliver their news tomorrow, a day ahead of AIB Bank, which is expected to announce a 5 to 9 per cent jump in first-half profits.
Underpinning the bank's performance is a flourishing retail banking division, especially on the domestic front where the economy continues to demonstrate strong credit growth.
Although the rest of the bank's divisions are not expected to perform as strongly, there's good news for AIB shareholders - analysts predict a plumper dividend is on the way.
Elsewhere in the financial services sector, Norwich Union also releases results tomorrow, which should provide an indication as to the health of the insurance industry.
In terms of economic data, the focus will be on the US where a raft of data will be released and closely scrutinised for clues on the next move in US interest rates.
Monday
Results: Anglo Overseas Trust (H1); ASM International (H1); BAA (Q1); Black Arrow Group; Derby Trust (H1); Easynet (H1); Filtronic; HSBC Holdings (H1); Mid Wynd International; Pearson (H1); SFI Group; Tor Investment Trust (H1); Ultra Electronics
E.G.M.: Carr's Milling, Glynwed International; NSB Retail Systems
A.G.M.: AB Airlines; Foreign & Colonial Smaller; Total Systems
Meetings: British Commonwealth Secretariat meets to discuss Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative
Others: Freeserve makes debut on London Stock Exchange; ISPO Sommer 1999 international sports equipment fair in Munich
Tuesday
Results: AON (Q3), AstraZeneca (H1); Norwich Union (H1), ACC Bank (H1); BP Amoco (H1); BAT (H1); Buhrmann (H1); Croda International (H1); Delcam (H1); Henderson Trust Pacific (H1); KLM (Q1); Mayflower Corp (H1); NatWest (H1); RWE; Spring Group; Ulster Bank (H1)
A.G.M.: Atkins (WS); Compco Holdings; Kenwood Appliances; Schroder UK Growth
Meetings: Mercosur trade bloc meets to settle Argentina-Brazil dispute
Indicators: US completions (Jun); total Irish external trade (March); total Irish external trade (April est)
Wednesday
Results: AIB (H1), Bank Austria (H1); Capital Shopping Centres; GKN (H1); Hepworth (H1); Hoogovens (H1); Jardine Lloyd Thomson (H1); Orange (H1); Oxford Molecular (H1); Standard Charter (H1); Statoil (H1); Transport Development (H1); Viag (H1); AngloGold (Q2); Air Canada (Q2)
E.G.M.: Tilbury Douglas
A.G.M.: Bandt; European Colour; Halma; Lambert Fenchurch Group; Racal Electronics; Tams (John) Group
Meetings: British Monetary Policy Committee meeting
Indicators: Employment in Irish construction industry (June); Germany's Ifo institute publishes halfyearly economic forecast
Others: Dublin Docks Development Authority presents annual report
Thursday
Results: AIM Group; Amvescap (H1); Barclays (H1); Elementis (H1); Mannesmann (H1); NWF Group; Quantica (H1); Rank (H1); Reed Elsevier; Royal and Sun Alliance (H1); Royal Dutch/Shell (Q2/ 1); Sara Lee (Q4); TI Group (H1)
E.G.M.: Pictet British Investments
A.G.M.: Gaelic Resources (also e.g.m.); Bradford; Dart Group; Mondas; Reflec; Teather & Greenwood
Indicators: Irish private sector credit growth (June); European Commission's business and consumer survey results for July
Friday
Results: Greggs (H1); Jersey Phoenix Trust; Johnson Services Group (H1); KBC Advanced Technologies (H1); Unilever (Q2/1); United News & Media (H1)
E.G.M.: Expamet
A.G.M.: Majestic Wine; Vtech Holdings
Indicators: Live register (July)
Others: Closing date for bids between French banking groups (BNP, SocGen, Paribas); World Bank briefing on China; Senator David Norris opens NCH website; Oakhill (ex-Crean) begins trading in Dublin
