Week ahead in business and finance
Monday
Trading update
Rio Tinto
Economics
Retail sales (US), Trade balance (EU)
Tuesday
TalkTalk chairman Sir Charles Dunstone could face a shareholder revolt at its AGM after raising £200m in a share sale to help it slash debt without consulting existing investors. Two shareholder advisory groups have signalled that investors should rebel against the chairman’s re-election.
Trading update
BHP Billiton, Dairy Crest, Galliford Try, Petropavlovsk, Royal Mail, SSP Group, TalkTalk
AGM
British Land, Dairy Crest, FirstGroup, N Brown
Economics
Labour data (UK), Industrial production (US), New car registrations (EU)
Wednesday
The boardroom battle at Premier Foods will take centre stage this week as activist investor Oasis Management attempts to oust boss Gavin Darby.
The disgruntled shareholder has blasted Mr Darby for “years of persistent shareholder value destruction” and doubled its stake to 17.3pc last week. It is counting on the support of Paulson & Co, which has a 6.2pc stake in Premier, but the group, which owns brands including Mr Kipling and Bisto, is believed to have the backing of Nissin Foods.
The Japanese noodle maker has a 20pc holding, dating back to Mr Darby’s controversial decision to spurn a 60p a share bid from US spice firm McCormick in 2016 in favour of a tie-up. Premier Foods shares are currently trading at 46.5p.
Trading update
Close Brothers, easyJet, Premier Foods, RPC, Severn Trent
AGM
Experian, Premier Foods, RPC, Severn Trent, TalkTalk
Economics
Inflation data (UK & EU), Housing data (US), Federal Reserve Beige Book (US), Construction output (EU)
Thursday
Hot weather and the success of England at the World Cup could boost Sports Direct’s figures as it attempts to turn itself into the “Selfridges of Sport”, according to Hargreaves Lansdown analyst George Salmon.
He added that its strategy “to elevate its retail offering” has shown early signs of success despite poor high street conditions.
Full-year results
Sports Direct International
Interim results
Moneysupermarket.com, Unilever
Trading update
Anglo American, AO World, Babcock International, Euromoney Institutional Investor, Hilton Food Group, Mothercare, SSE
AGM
AO World, Babcock International, Electrocomponents, Halma, Royal Mail, SSE
Economics
Retail sales (UK), CBI industrial trends survey
Friday
Acacia Mining will update investors on the toll of its bitter dispute with the Tanzanian government.
The gold producer already admitted last month that gold production in its second quarter fell by 36pc as its majority shareholder Barrick attempts to lift an export ban hitting around 30pc of its output.
Interim results
Acacia Mining, Beazley
Economics
Public sector net borrowing