With the US distracted by its Independence Day holiday, the European Central Bank meets on Thursday with hopes rising on the Continent of a quarter point rate cut to ease the pressure on their ailing economies. Comments from Bank officials last week seemed to be softening the market sup for a cut but, with the ECB's track record, a decision hangs in the balance.
The Bank of England also meets on rates this week but no change is expected. There will be a slew of economic data towards the end of the week in the US, including key unemployment figures and manufacturing data.
MONDAY
Results: Europower, Glotel, I-Document Systems (H1), UBC Media Group, Weeks Group.
A.G.M.: Charles Baynes (e.g.m.), Dimension Resources, Invesco Inc Growth Trust, Premisys Technologies (e.g.m.).
Meetings: World Economic Forum holds two-day European Economic Summit, attended by business leaders and heads of government from across Europe (Salzburg).
Indicators: EMU purchasing managers' index (Jun); French PMI (Jun); Italian producer prices (May) and PMI (Jun); German PMI (Jun); British PMI; US personal income/spending (May), construction spending (May), vehicle sales (Jun) and NAPM (Jun).
TUESDAY
Results: Coral Products, Druck Holdings, Mentmore Abbey, Powderject Pharmaceuticals, Propan Homes, Pura, Scottish & Newcastle, Somerfield, Topnotch Health Clubs, Vega Group, Winchester Entertainment.
Meetings: OPEC oil ministers' extraordinary meeting to consider oil output policy (Vienna).
Indicators: EMU unemployment rate (May), business, consumer and economic surveys (Jun) and retail sales (Apr); Irish Exchequer returns (Jan-Jun), national income/expenditure 2000; US factory orders (May); British house prices (Jun); French consumer confidence (Jun); Italian business confidence (May).
Others: IDA Ireland publishes annual report; Launch of National Development Plan for the marine and natural resources sectors; European Central Bank (ECB) president Wim Duisenberg to present the ECB annual report to the European Parliament; OECD report on financial market trends; OECD publishes employment outlook.
WEDNESDAY
Results: Alphameric (H1), Anite Group, Dixons, Heiton Holdings, Iceland Group, Kensington Group (H1), Northgate, RWE, Vardy (Reg).
A.G.M.: 3i, Bank of Ireland, Donegal Creameries, Edinburgh Inv Trust, Enterprise Inns (e.g.m.), Hiscox, Intercede Group, Reed Executive (e.g.m.), Themis FTSE All-Small.
Meetings: Bank of England monetary policy committee meets (to Thurs).
Indicators: EMU business climate indicator (Jun), producer prices (May), labour costs/earnings (Q1) and composite and services indices (Jun); British services index (Jun) and CBI distributive trades survey (Jun).
Others: US Independence Day public holiday; Dormant Accounts Bill 2001 second stage in Seanad; Chinese and WTO officials conclude latest round of formal talks on Beijing's admission (Geneva).
THURSDAY
Results: Kleeneze, PSA Peugeot-Citreon (H1), Scoot.com (Q1), Snackhouse.
A.G.M.: Drummond Group, Hanover International (e.g.m.), JJB Sports, Pennine Downing AIM VCT, Scottish Mortgage Trust.
Meetings: ECB governing council meets.
Indicators: Japanese coincidental indicator (May); German unemployment (Jun) and manufacturing new orders (May); US NAPM non-manufacturing (Jun).
Others: Bank of England announces interest rate decision.
FRIDAY
A.G.M.: Booth Industries (e.g.m.), Comino Group, DCC, Incepta Group.
Indicators: Irish unemployment (Jun); Japanese household spending (May); French GDP (Q1); British industrial production (May) and manufacturing output (May); US unemployment data (Jun).
