input from several key acquisitions and good growth in the solid Irish and US markets are expected to ensure a healthy rise in profits from Ireland's blue-chip industrial company tomorrow. Analysts are pencilling in pre-tax profits of between €392 million and €398 million (£309£313 million), up around 22 per cent on the previous year, which itself marked a 26 per cent rise on 1996. Of the rise, about half is expected to be organic with acquisitions accounting for the remainder.
Looking ahead, forecasts are for another good year with low interest rates in Europe spurring growth in the building sector and dollar strength in the US boosting the figures.
Monday
Results: Aegis, Aggreko, Argentaria (H1), Billiton, Bisichi Mining, BNP, Burmah Castrol, Close Brothers (H1), Dixon Motors, Domestic & General (H1), English China Clays, Grafton Group, Hays (H1), Hodder Headline, London & Associated Properties, Marshalls, Mayflower, McBride (H1), Ocean Group, Perkins Foods, Planet Hollywood, Renault, Redrow (H1), Scottish Inv Trust (H1), Sherwood International, Sun Life & Provincial
A.G.M.: Calderburn (e.g.m.), Fishers (e.g.m.), Hawtin.
Indicators: British consumer credit (Jan) and M0 money supply (Feb); US personal income (Jan) and National Association of Purchasing Managers index (Feb); German purchasing managers' index (Feb).
Others: Deadline for ruling by a World Trade Organisation panel on the amount of retaliation the United States can impose on European Union goods over the EU's controversial banana regime; High Court hears NIB applications re Harney-appointed inspectors; AIB Capital Markets Export Awards (IFSC); Presentation of Young Business Writer awards.
Tuesday
Results: Arriva, Baan, BPP Holdings, Britt Allcroft (H1), CRH, Druid Group (H1), Epwin Group, Fairview Holdings, Gallaher, Hunter Douglas, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Millennium & Copthorne, New Comms & Media (H1), Norwich Union, PSD Group, Rentokil Initial, RJB Mining, Wates City of London Properties
A.G.M.: Birmingham City, New Zealand IT, Fitness First, Unidare.
Meetings: Bank of England monetary policy committee meeting (to Wed); European Union farm ministers due to resume talks on reforming the bloc's agriculture policy (Brussels); Istitute of European Affairs luncheon.
Indicators: Irish Exchequer Borrowing Requirement (Feb); British official reserves (Feb); US leading indicators (Jan) and new home sales (Jan); EU consumer prices (Jan).
Wednesday
Results: Aegon, William Baird, Britannic, Cookson Group, Dawson Intnl, Enterprise Oil, GKN, Heineken, Jacobs Holdings, Murphy Brewery, Parity, Peugeot Citroen, Photobition (H1), Psion, Schroders, Serco Group, Thistle Hotels (H1), Wilson Bowden.
Meetings: Bank of France Monetary Policy Council meeting;
Indicators: European Commission monthly EU business and consumer sentiment survey (Feb).
Others: US Federal Reserve chairman Mr Alan Greenspan testifies before the US House of Representatives Commerce Committee on Social Security; The World Trade Organisation's Dispute Settlement Body holds special meeting to discuss a US request for clearance to impose sanctions on the European union in their banana trade dispute; Irish venture capital company, Agincourt, announces new fund details.
Thursday
Results: Elementis, Furlong Homes, Oxford, Glycosciences, Hillsdown Holdings, Mirror Group, PowerGen, Rolls-Royce, Royal & Sun Alliance, Sanderson Bramall Motor, Total Office Group, Vickers, Williams
A.G.M.: Albion, Athlone Extrusions, Homes & Marachant, Matrix Healthcare, Readicut International (e.g.m.), Recognition Systems
Meetings: European central bank governing and general council meetings (Frankfurt).
Indicators: Irish credit figures (Jan); EU GDP (Q4) and unemployment (Jan).
Others: IAIM announces guidelines on corporate governance, share options and other incentive schemes.
Friday
Results: Eurosales (H1), Greggs, Limelight Group, Thornton (H1).
A.G.M.: Alliance Resources, Eurocopy, Lazard Birla India IT, Marston (e.g.m.), Thompson & Evershed (e.g.m.).
Indicators: Irish Live register statement (Feb); US employment (Feb).
