After last week's announcement of the closure of Gateway's European headquarters in Dublin and the gloomy outlook, especially for Europe, from Cisco, close attention will be paid to quarterly figures out this week from technology heavyweights Dell Computers and Hewlett-Packard.
No-one is expecting much from the figures themselves in the current climate for high-tech companies but analysts will be looking for some signs of hope going forward, especially with so many Irish jobs resting on the success of European operations.
Economic data: Consumers will be in the spotlight in the United States next week with retail sales and the University of Michigan sentiment index watched for signs that the slowdown in the manufacturing sector is spreading.
Meanwhile, inflation data will be of particular interest in the euro zone after a European Central Bank report last Thursday hinted an interest rate cut may come sooner rather than later.
With this in mind, particular attention will be paid to figures out this week, particularly those for inflation in France.
Monday
Results: Cordiant Communications (H1), Management Consulting Group (H1), Publicis (H1), Thompson Clive Invs (H1), Torex (H1), Workspace (Q1).
A.G.M.:Martin Currie Hi Inc It (e.g.m.), Providence Resources.
Meetings: Bank of Japan's policy board starts two-day monetary policy meeting.
Indicators: British producer prices (Jun); German retail sales (Jun).
Others:Kerry Group formally announces the level of acceptances for Golden Vale takeover offer; Australian Reserve Bank of quarterly statement on monetary policy.
Tuesday
Results: AFC Enterprises (Q2), Allianz (H1), Autologic (H1), Biocompatibles (H1), CD Bramall (H1), Deere & Co (Q3), Degussa (H1), Dresdner Bank (H1), DrKoop.com (Q2), Four Seasons Hotels (Q2), Homebase (Q2), Mallett (H1), Mersey Docks & Harbour (H1), Michael Page International (H1), Morgan Sindall (H1), Ncipher, JC Penney (Q2), Readers Digest Association, Scottish Power (Q1), UBS (Q2), Wal-Mart Stores (Q2), Xenova (H1).
A.G.M.: Castings, Ultrasis (e.g.m.).
Meetings: Enterprise Ireland investment director Mr Gerry moloney addresses monthly First Tuesday meeting (Gravity Bar, St James Gate, Dublin)/
Indicators: US retail sales (Jul) and services revenues (Jul; British retail prices (Jul); German wholesale prices (Jul); French consumer prices (Jul); Japanese industrial production (Jun), machine tools orders (Jul) and retail sales (Jun).
Wednesday
Results: Alterian (Q1), Ann Taylor Stores (Q2), Balfour Beatty (H1), Clariant (H1), Computacenter (H1), Dixon Motors (H1), Donna Karan International (Q2), Esporta (H1), Hewlett-Packard (Q3), Kuoni (H1), Oneida (Q2), Readymix (H1), Roche (H1), Storebrand (Q2), Wella (H1).
A.G.M.: Bulgin, Mountview Estates, NTR (e.g.m.).
Indicators: US business inventories (Jun), capacity utilisation (Jul) and industrial production (Jul); Japanese GDP (Q1); British unemployment (Jul), average earnings (Jun) and unit wages (Jun).
Others: Bank of England publishes minutes of August monetary policy committee; Public holiday in most of Continental Europe.
Thursday
Results: ABN Amro (H1),Analog Devices (Q3), Autodesk (Q2), Concurrent Technologies (H1), Danske Bank (H1), Dell (Q2), E.ON (Q2), Estee Lauder, Fox Entertainment, Gap (Q2), Hormel Foods (Q3), Netstore, News Corporation, Novartis (H1), Patsystems (H1), Portmeirion Group (H1), Qantas, SDL (H1), Telia (Q2), Tiffany (Q2), Watson Wyatt, Wembley (H1).
A.G.M.: Cluff Mining
Indicators: US consumer prices (Jul), real earnings (Jul), building permits (Jul), housing starts/completions (Jul) and Philadelphia Federal Survey (Aug); British retail sales (Jul); Japanese leading and coincidental indicators (Jun).
Friday
Indicators: EMU harmonised consumer prices (Jul); US international trade (Jun); French employment (Q2), industrial production (Jun) and manufacturing output (Jun); Italian consumer prices (Jul).
