Fyffes' euro landmark set

Fruit importer Fyffes will become the first Irish listed company to announce its figures in euros when it reports today.

Fruit importer Fyffes will become the first Irish listed company to announce its figures in euros when it reports today.

The company announced before Christmas that it was set to enter a major European alliance with Capespan which will cost it £24.5 million and analysts will want to know how soon the deal will reap rewards.

Analysts are expecting pre-tax profits to come in at 74.2 million euros (£58.4 million) compared with (euro) 68.6 million (54 million).

Intel/Apple:

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A glance at the health of the all-important technology sector will emerge this week with both Intel (tomorrow) and Apple (Wednesday) reporting results. With large numbers in the Republic employed by both firms as well as holding stock, the reports accompanying the figures will be closely examined for hints of what lies ahead.

Inflation:

Inflation data for December due out on Thursday should show a further fall according to ABN-Amro due to the sharp cut in interest rates before Christmas as well as cuts in telecoms costs due to deregulation in the sector. The broker forecasts an end-year annual inflation rate of 1.6 per cent, down 0.2 per cent on the month excluding mortgages.

Monday

Results: Denmans Electrical, Fyffes, Hacas, PWS Holdings, RCO Holdings, Tomkins (H1), Triad Group (H1).

A.G.M.: Biocompatibles (e.g.m.), Dailywin Group (e.g.m.).

Meetings: European Commission and German government, which holds the six-month presidency of the European Union, hold joint meeting.

Indicators: British producer price index (Dec), industrial production (Nov) and manufacturing output (Nov); German manufacturing orders (Nov).

Tuesday

Results: Bespak (H1), Bullough, Iona Technologies, Intel (Q4), Irish Continental, Savills (H1), Wyko Group (H1).

A.G.M.: Allied Domecq, Forminster (e.g.m.), Landround, Ormonde Mining.

Meetings: Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants lunch addressed by Mr Peter Cassells, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions.

Indicators: British Retail Consortium sales monitor (Dec); US Atlanta Federal Index (Dec); French consumer prices (Dec); German industrial production (Nov), current account (Nov) and trade balance (Nov).

Others: Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy to launch third phase of Euro Changeover Board of Ireland; The World Trade Organisation's Dispute Settlement Body holds a special session on the banana row setting the European Union against the United States and some Latin American producers (Geneva).

Wednesday

Results: Advanced Micro Devices (Q4), Aerospatiale, Apple (Q1), Heiton Holdings (H1), Vega Group (H1), Dixons (H1), FI Group (H1).

A.G.M.: Charriol (e.g.m.), Fenner, Gleeson, M&G Group, Rutland Trust (e.g.m.), Wigmore Property, H Young Holdings (e.g.m.).

Indicators: British claimant count (Dec); US producer price index (Dec); German cost of living (Nov) and retail sales (Nov).

Others: ISME publish new report: "Manpower Shortages - What Needs to be Done"

Thursday

Results: Eastman Kodak (Q4), Greenwich Resources, ML Laboratories, Stanley Leisure (H1).

A.G.M.: Abbot Mead Vickers (e.g.m.), Character Group, Delancey Estates (e.g.m.), Henderson Strata, Premier Health Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Oriental, Total (e.g.m.), Univak (e.g.m.).

Meetings: Bundesbank Council meets; Russian economy chief Mr Yuri Maslyukov will meet IMF managing director Mr Michel Camdessus at the IMF's invitation (Washington); UCC Commerce & Economics Society Annual Business Conference on theme of "2000 AD: Ireland's Economic Odyssey in a New Era" (Jurys Hotel, Cork); Society of Investment Analysts in Ireland seminar on "1999 the Millennium Bull Market?" (UCD).

Indicators: Irish consumer price index (Dec) and trade statistics (Aug); US consumer price index (Dec), retail sales (Dec), real earnings (Dec), US Michigan Sentiment Survey (Jan) and weekly jobless claims and monetary data; German GDP (Q4) and net financial investment (Q4); French current account (Oct) and GDP (Q3).

Others: Advertising Agency of the Year award (Conrad Hotel, Dublin); DHL Exporter of the Year award.

Friday

Results: Coca-Cola.

A.G.M.: Advanced Power, Anglo Irish Bank, Bellway, BOC Group, Ferrum Holdings (e.g.m.), NatWest Enterprise (e.g.m.), Second Scottish National, Vardon (e.g.m.). to Sat).

Indicators: Irish employment in construction (Nov); US business inventories (Nov), capacity utilisation (Dec), industrial production (Dec) and import/ export prices (Dec).