After what was a roller-coaster opening week of 1998 for both domestic and global stock markets, attention is back where it began - on Asia. The sharp slide in New York's Dow Jones on Friday was rooted primarily in fears about the effect of any meltdown in the former tiger economies on the earnings of corporate America.
This week should begin to give the answer with the fourth-quarter reporting season getting under way in the US. The figures should give at least some indication of the effects of the growing crisis in the region over the past six months.
Last week's return of panic to Indonesia's stock and currency markets shows there will be more to fear before calm returns to south-east Asia.
Ewart: Ewart hopes that interim figures, being brought forward for release on Friday, will encourage shareholders not to fall for the lure of Dunloe House's £25 million offer. It has also raised the possibility of a counter-offer being received, hints which should pressage an interesting week for the Belfast-based property group.
Monday
Results: Cammell Laird Holdings (H1), Eagle Star (H1), Ellis & Everard (H1), Fyffes, Mulberry Group (H1), PWS Holdings, Savills (H1), Tomkins (H1), Triad (H1).
A.G.M.: Coronation Holdings, Lonsdale Holdings (e.g.m.), Perpetual, Waterfall Holdings, Wilshaw (e.g.m.).
Meetings: Annual EU-Japan summit (Tokyo); to Tues); Bank of Korea Governor Lee Kyung-shick visits Switzerland and meets BIS central governors (Basle to Tues); Group of 10 central bankers holds regular monthly meeting at Bank for International Settlements (Basle).
Indicators: British manufacturing output (Nov), industrial production (Nov) and producer prices (Dec); German retail sales (Nov); Japanese wholesale prices (Dec) and household spending (Nov); French consumer prices (Dec); Italian retail sales (Oct).
Others: High Court to decide if Jim Stanley can refuse to meet Bula inspector; Minister for Environment, Mr Dempsey introduces new system for local government funding; Publication of study on impact of air transport on Ireland's export performance;
Tuesday
Results: Bespak (H1), Capital For Cos Vct (H1), Debenham Tewson & Chinnocks Holdings (H1), Jurys Hotel Group (H1), Savills (H1), SDX Business System.
A.G.M.: Mercury World Mining (e.g.m.), Rodime.
Meetings: European Parliament holds plenary session - provisional agenda includes debates on the impact of the single currency on capital markets, the single currency and the consumer, external aspects of European economic and monetary union, new technologies and money, value-added taxes on telecommunications, investment services in securities (Strasbourg).
Indicators: British retail prices (Dec); US consumer prices (Dec), real earnings (Dec) and Atlanta Federal Index (Dec); German cost of living (Dec); Italian non-EU trade (Nov).
Others: Mr Craig Bond to meet Bula inspector.
Wednesday
Results: Aberforth Smaller Co's Tr, Aberforth Split Level Tr (H1), Budgens (H1), Dixons Group (H1), First Technology (H1), Irish Continental, Martin Currie Moorgate It (H1), Robert H Lowe, Stanley Leisure (H1).
A.G.M.: Action Computer, Character Group, Fenner, Lindum Reffs Gold, M&G Group, Majedie Investments (also e.g.m.), MJ Gleeson, McCarthy & Stone, Wigmore Properties.
Indicators: British unemployment (Dec) and average earnings (Nov) and quarterly wage costs (Nov); US retail sales (Dec) and import/export prices (Dec); Japanese trade (Oct); French current account (Oct); Italian wholesale prices (Nov) and producer prices (Nov).
Thursday
Results: Cap Gemini, FI Group (H1), Greenwich Resources.
A.G.M.: Car Group, Harrisons & Crosfield (e.g.m.), Henderson Strata, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Oriental.
Indicators: Irish producer price index (Dec) and public sector employment figures (Jun); US business inventories (Nov), weekly jobless claims, Philadelphia Federal Servey (Jan) and weekly monetary data; Italian industrial production (Nov).
Friday
Results: Ewart (H1).
A.G.M.: Anglo Irish Bankcorp, Bellway, BOC, Jones (e.g.m.), MSB International (e.g.m.).
Indicators: Irish public sector earnings (Jun) and construction sector employment (Nov); US capacity utilisation (Nov), industrial production (Nov) and Michigan Sentiment Survey (Jan); French GDP (Q3).
