Independent newspapers, which reports interim results on Wednesday, will benefit from a rise in profits at Wilson & Horton, the New Zealand group in which it holds an 86 per cent stake, as well as the continuing growth in newspaper revenue in the domestic market where it is still the dominant player. Slightly lower losses at Newspaper Publishing in Britain, which publishes the London Independent, and an improved return from its South African media holdings should also boost the figures.
Norwich Union: One of the principal highlights of the week is due on Wednesday with the publication of the first results from Norwich Union since its stock market flotation earlier this summer. Accompanying the results will be a trading statement highlighting figures on new business. The company's current views on the trends in the sector will also be a highlight of the day.
Consumer prices: Analysts are divided over the scale of any increase in inflation last month with forecasts ranging between rises of 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent. Holiday costs, which traditionally add to the index in August, will be somewhat offset by the strength of the pound. Assuming the lower figure would yield an annual inflation rate of 1.4 per cent, still below the Central bank's forecast of 1.6 per cent. Whatever the monthly figure, the August figures will provide a direct comparison with last year's data.
Monday
Results: Blue Circle Inds (H1), Britis h Vita (H1), Dewhirst Group (H1), Dowding & Mills, Fairey Group (H1), FBD Holdings (H1), Forth Ports (H1), Fortnum & Mason, John Haggas, Home Counties Newspapers (H1), KS Biomedix Holdings, Polypipe, Scottish Media Group (H1), Scottish TV (H1), TT Group (H1), Wilson Bowden (H1).
Meetings: UCC symposium on economic disparities between the south-west and the rest of Ireland.
Indicators: British industrial production (Jul) and producer price index (Aug).
Others: Release of IMS/ Forfas survey on EMU and business awareness.
Tuesday
Results: Adscene Group, BBA Group (H1), Bryant Group, Expamet International (H1), James Fisher (H1), Hall Engineering (H1), Logica, Peter- head (H1), RJB Mining (H1), Ryland Group (H1), Wyevale Garden Centres (H1).
Meetings: Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants monthly lunch addressed by Mr MIchael Duffy, chief executive of An Bord Bia (Burlington Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: British retail prices (Aug); US unit labour costs (Q2) and wholesale trade (Jul); German unemployment (Aug).
Others: Providence Resources to trade on Exploration Securities Market; Insititute of Taxation publishes Taxation Summary 1997/98.
Wednesday
Results: Associated British Ports (H1), Christies International (H1), Courtaulds Textiles (H1), Independent Newspapers (H1), Meggitt (H1), Midland Independent Newspapers (H1), Norwich Union (H1), Peterhead Group (H1), UniChem (H1), United News & Media (H1), Whittards of Chelsea.
Indicators: German cost of living (Aug) and GDP (Q2).
Others: National Irish Bank opens Galway Business Centre (Great Southern Hotel, Galway).
Thursday
Results: Adwest Group, Arjo Wiggins (H1), Bentalls (H1), Booker (H1), British Aerospace (H1), Brunner Mond, BTR (H1), Centrica (H1), Coats Viyella (H1), Enterprise Oil (H1), Jeyes Group (H1), Legal & General (H1), Minorco (H1), National Express (H1), Qualceram (H1), Royal Dutch (H1), Shell Transport (H1), Sirdar, United Biscuits (H1), Vickers (H1).
Meetings: Sustaining Success conference, organised by Consolidated Financial Insurance (Irl) addressed by Mr Peter White, chief executive, Alliance & Leicester (Conrad Hotel, Dublin); Irish Energy Centre hosts conference on "Energy Competitiveness, An Environmental Challenge for Irish Industry" (Dublin Castle).
Indicators: Irish CPI (Aug) and tourism and travel quarterly data (Jun); US current account (Q2); German retail sales (Jul).
Others: Galen takes a lsiting on the Irish Stock Exchange; An Bord Trachtala annual report published.
Friday
A.G.M.: Stanley Leisure.
Meetings: European finance and economics ministers meet in Luxembourg to discuss entry rates for EMU (to Sun).
Indicators: Irish building and construction employment index (Jul), industrial disputes (Q2) and wholesale price index (Aug); US producer prices (Aug), retail sales (Aug), Atlanta Fed Index (Aug) and Michigan Sentiment Survey (Sep); German wholesale prices (Aug); French consumer prices (Aug).
