JANUARY

15th: In Britain the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Kenneth Clarke and Bank of England governor Mr Eddie George hold their first monetary policy meeting of the year. Markets will be looking to see if interest rates rise.

21st: The Irish Profit Sharing Association to have inaugural dinner in the Berkeley Court hotel in Dublin.

22nd: The Minister for Finance Mrs Quinn presents the Budget for 1997. Strong expectations of significant tax cuts for PAYE workers and for the business sector after good revenue results for 1996.

27th: EU finance ministers to meet in Brussels for first meeting in 1997.

28th: IBEC-CBI conference on economic corridor in Ballymascanlon Hotel, Co Louth.

FEBRUARY

4th and 5th: US Federal Reserves Open Market Committee meets. It is responsible for setting interest rates. Fed watchers will look for signs that chairman Mr Alan Green span is still concerned by "irrational exuberance" in the markets, and whether this will lead to higher interest rates.

7th: Lunar New Year. Public holidays throughout east Asia to celebrate the Year of the Ox, a symbol of logical behaviour, methodical work practices and all round sturdiness.

11th: AIB results for year to end December 1996.

15th: Deadline for the World Trade Organisation negotiations to liberalise international telecommunications services.

18th: 1996 results from Irish Permanent (or 20th).

27th: Irish Association of Pension Funds annual dinner.

MARCH

4th: Results from CRH and Kerry Group for year to end December 1996.

12th: The South African government budget for 1997/98 - opportunity to stimulate a growing economy and to review the impact of new tax concessions for foreign investors.

20th: Bundesbank council meets in Frankfurt to review German interest rates and progress on the European single currency.

25th: The 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the economic co operation agreement in 1957 that became the basis of the European Economic Community and, ultimately, the European Union.

APRIL

First Week: Exchequer returns for the first three months will give the first indication of whether budgetary targets will be met.

8th: Jefferson Smurfit Group annual results for year to end December.

14th: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development annual meeting in London. Members to discuss how the stronger recipients of aid should graduate to a less dependent status and structural reforms of financial systems including pension funds.

12th/13th/14th: Labour Party biennial conference 18th/19th: Fianna Fail annual conference 15th: France to start sell off of first 20 per cent of its telecoms utility, France Telecom, in second half of April. The finance ministry has estimated the stake to be worth Ffr25 billion (£2.8 billion), valuing the entire company at Ffr125 billion (£14.2 billion).

25th/26th: Democratic Left annual conference.

28th: Meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

MAY

7th: CRH annual general meeting.

Mid month: Bank of Ireland results for year to March 31st, 1997.

16th: Thirty years ago today, French president Charles de Gaulle said "non" to Britain's membership of the then EEC.

20th: Meeting of the US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee to assess interest rates.

JUNE

The world's largest mutual society, the Halifax, scheduled to float on the London Stock Exchange. An estimated market value of £10 billion sterling will make it one of the top 20 companies on the British market. The flotation depends on the nine million members voting in favour of converting the mutual society into a bank in return for payouts estimated at about £1,000 each.

5th: 50th anniversary of US general George Marshall's call for an economic plan to rebuild Europe. The Marshall Plan, as it became known, channelled US aid into the war ravaged economies of western Europe.

9th The Bank of International Settlements, which sets standards for the world's central banks, holds its annual meeting in Basle, Switzerland.

11th: Jefferson Smurfit Group annual general meeting.

16th: European heads of government summit in Amsterdam to negotiate revisions to the Maastricht treaty under the inter governmental conference and make further preparations for the euro.

25th: OPEC ministers meet in Vienna.

30th: Britain will hand Hong Kong back to China at midnight. Should be an interesting couple of days for the international financial markets.

JULY

1st: Luxembourg takes over EU presidency period in the run up to the choice of who will qualify to move forward to monetary union.

First Week: Exchequer returns for the first half of the year.

31st: Results from AIB for six months to the end of June.

AUGUST

19th: The US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meets. By now it should be clear whether the US is on track for another year of relatively low inflation or whether an increase in interest rates is required to calm the economy.

21st: Bank of France monetary policy meeting in Paris. The bank will be under pressure to help to ensure that France qualifies for membership of European Monetary Union.

SEPTEMBER

Fine Gael annual conference.

2nd: Interim results from CRH and Jefferson Smurfit.

26th: Finance ministers from Europe and Asia meet in Bangkok to discuss trade and investment cooperation between the two regions.

29th: British Labour Party annuals conference. Will Tony Blair be in number 10?

OCTOBER 7

First Week: Exchequer returns for the third quarter should provide a clear indication of whether another substantial undershoot of the Budget targets is in prospect. But the question is: Will Mr Quinn be the Minister unveiling these figures?

7th: British Conservative Party annual conference starts in Blackpool.

NOVEMBER

Second Budget of the year, when clans will be set down for 1998 under new Exchequer procedures laid down by Mr Quinn. The timing may be affected by a general election. Should be lively betting on who will be the Minister delivering the package.

9th: Confederation of British Industry conference in Birmingham.

12th: US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meets.

Mid month: Bank of Ireland interim results.

25th: The last Tuesday of November is the traditional date of the British budget but, in an election year, this could change.

DECEMBER

12th/13th: European Union heads of government meet in Luxembourg as deadlines loom for the qualification for the Single Currency and countries want to establish their "in" or "out" status. The decision will be made in early 1998 on the basis of economic figures for this year and by the Luxembourg summit the scrap may already be brewing.

16th: US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee has its last meeting of the year.