THE EURO zone will remain in the spotlight this week as markets await clarity in relation to debt restructuring in Greece.
The European Central Bank meets to discuss euro zone monetary policy on Thursday. Although the market is expecting to see rates cut again, it is thought likely the ECB will wait until March to do so.
At home, the 2012 Finance Bill is due to be published but is not expected to contain any major surprises.
MONDAY
Meeting: "Media Diversity: Why Does It Matter?" conference; annual Energy Action conference on fuel poverty with Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte (Dublin Castle); Choices Expo 2012 (to Wednesday, RDS)
Indicators: EU-17 Sentix index (February); German industrial orders (December)
Other: Launch of Safer Internet Day 2012
TUESDAY
Results: ArcelorMittal
Meeting: United Drug agm (Shelbourne Hotel).
Indicators: Irish new car licences (January); US consumer credit (December); German industrial production (December); UK BRC Retail Sales (January); German industrial production (December).
Other: Getting PR Through Social Media – Fingal County Enterprise Board event (Clarion Hotel, Dublin airport); Bellway trading update; EFSF chief executive Klaus Regling to give speech, "The sovereign debt crisis: where next for the euro?" at City Week 2012: the International Financial Services Forum (London).
WEDNESDAY
Results: Elan; Intrum Justitia; Smurfit Kappa; Visa.
Meeting: Cork Chamber business breakfast – with keynote speaker Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller; Sage Ireland to launch Sage in the Cloud.
Indicators: Japanese economy. Watchers index (January).
Other: Publication of 2012 Finance Bill.
THURSDAY
Results: Diageo
Meeting: Greencore agm; Nama chairman Frank Daly to address Dublin Chamber agm dinner (Four Seasons Hotel); Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton will address the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society; Small Firms Association annual Small Business Showcase (Chartered Accountants Ireland, D2); Launch of details of Techovate 2012 (Wexford Opera House); William Fry to host breakfast briefing "Euro zone Challenges: Legal Implications".
Indicators: ECB interest rate announcement; US initial jobless claims (week ending February 4th) and wholesale inventories (December); UK industrial production (December), trade balance (December) and Band of England interest rate announcement.
Other: Waterford Chamber to host tourism, agri and food, enterprise and innovation conference (Tower Hotel, Waterford city).
FRIDAY
Meeting: Sino Irish Business Seminar
Indicators: Irish industrial production (December); US international trade balance (December), preliminary Michigan sentiment (February) and federal budget (January); UK producer price index input (January); German final consumer price index (January); French industrial output (December); Italian industrial production (December).
Other: The International Energy Agency publishes its monthly oil market report.
