Week ahead in business and economics: September 29-October 3

Revisions up until the end of 2012 have already shown that the Great Recession was not as bad as feared, and economists expect further upward revisions to the end of June.

The data will also reveal the strength of business investment and exports. While the former is expected to grow strongly, most economists expect trade to make little or no contribution to growth this year.

House price indices from the Bank of England and Nationwide will reveal the health of the mortgage market, while Markit’s closely watched PMI survey data on the manufacturing, construction and services sectors will shed light on the economic recovery as a whole.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes chapters of its World Economic Outlook this week ahead of its annual meeting in Washington.

Monday September 29

Full-year results DX, Gleeson (MJ), International Ferro Metals Group

Interim results ACTA, Camkids Group, Network, Oxford Pharmascience Group

Trading update Aberdeen Asset Management

Economics None scheduled

Meetings Pinewood Shepperton (AGM)

Tuesday September 30

Compass, the catering giant that runs canteens for corporates such as Google, is expected to report organic sales growth in the region of 4pc for the fourth quarter, on a par with 4pc sales growth in the previous three months. Analysts at Morgan Stanley said: “We expect similar regional revenue trends in Q4, with an improvement in Europe and Japan drawing attention away from the slowdown in Australia.”

Plumbing and building materials group Wolseley’s full-year results will be closely watched as an economic bellwether. Given the company’s significant presence in the US, the strength of the pound this year will have acted as a headwind, as it has for many other British companies that generate earnings overseas. “We expect that trading has reflected a similar pattern to Q3 trends – US strong… and continental Europe mixed, though there will be a focus on UK where management has pointed to drawing a line under market share after significant losses this year,” said Numis analyst Howard Seymour.

Wolseley paid £348m and £300m in special dividends in 2012 and 2013 respectively and investors are waiting to see if the company declares another this week. “Of interest will be scope for special dividends… and we would not rule out this happening again at a similar quantum, though question how a company can have 'special’ dividends three years in a row without pressure on including these as normal dividends,” said Mr Seymour.

Analyst consensus is for revenue of £13.1bn and pre-tax profits of £667m.

Full-year results Eclectic Bar Group, Wolseley, Wonga

Interim results African Minerals, Saga, Snoozebox Holdings

Trading update Compass Group, Daily Mail and General Trust, Homeserve, ICAP, RPC, QinetiQ Group

Economics UK Q2 GDP (final), Nationwide house price index

Meetings None scheduled

Wednesday October 1

Full-year results James Halstead

Interim results Walker Greenbank

Trading update ITE Group, Sainsbury (J)

Economics CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI, ONS labour productivity

Meetings None scheduled

Thursday October 2

Domino’s Pizza, which has been boosting sales through meal-deal promotions, is forecast to report another strong quarter of double-digit like-for-like sales, although management, led by David Wild, is still battling to turn around the group’s loss-making business in Germany.

First-half sales at Domino’s jumped 11.3pc on a like-for-like basis. Although these were boosted by the World Cup, analysts said that the company would have benefited from easier comparatives in the third quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.

Pre-tax profit rose in the first half by 10pc and Douglas Jack, analyst at Numis, believes the group is on track for an 11pc increase in profits in the second half of the year.

Support services business Carillion will be updating on third-quarter trade today but what the market will really be looking for is further insight into its abandoned merger attempt with rival Balfour Beatty.

FTSE 250-listed Carillion, which provides facilities management, construction and engineering services, was knocked back by Balfour three times before giving up on the deal in August.

A few days before it aborted the tie-up, Carillion reported half-year revenues were down 5pc as it had expected, but said it was “well positioned to target revenue growth” in the full year.

Analysts will be looking for signs that this is taking place.

Full-year results Firestone Diamonds

Interim results Carillion, Domino’s Pizza, Ted Baker

Trading update None scheduled

Economics CIPS/Markit construction PMI

Meetings None scheduled

Friday October 3

Full-year results Full-year results

Interim results None scheduled

Trading update easyJet

Economics CIPS/Markit services PMI, Halifax house price index, US employment

Meetings None scheduled

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