Investing Knowledge

The folks at Bank of England meet up again next week for their monthly interest rate meeting. As usual, they will announce their decision at noon on Thursday. Meanwhile, next Wednesday, Nationwide will issue its latest consumer confidence figures. Last month this indicated that consumers were cautious but not panicked by the economic climate. Only one in five people believed the economy would be worse in six months' time compared to one in two at the start of 2009.

Food Glorious Food

Also on offer next week are interim numbers from Wm. Morrison (LSE: MRW). The UK's fourth biggest grocer has been pinching market share from its bigger rivals Tesco (LSE: TSCO.L - news) (LSE: TSCO), Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY.L - news) (LSE: SBRY) and Asda (NYSE: WMT - news) . The improvement in customer numbers is expected to translate into a rise in half-time sales, and profits are expected to get a boost too.

Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF.L - news) (LSE: ABF), which runs Primark, will provide a trading update on Monday. This month, Primark's founder Arthur Ryan is expected to hand over the reins of the budget retailer to Paul Marchant, who joined the company last year from New Look.

Melted Chocolate

Thorntons (LSE: THT.L - news) (LSE: THT) is unlikely to fully recoup the drop in profits it suffered in the first six months of its financial year. Sales held up well in the first half but margins were hit as a result of significantly higher promotional discounts. In the second half, revenues melted as corporate customers slashed spending to ride out the recession. Thorntons will post annual results on Wednesday.

Fingers will be crossed for signs of improvement at the hotel division of Whitbread (LSE: WTB.L - news) (LSE: WTB). The new financial year did not start well for the leisure conglomerate. Like-for-like sales at Premier Inn dropped 7.9% with revenue per room down 9.6% as a result of heavy discounting. There were, however, signs of growth at Costa and the group's pubs.

Comet Attack

Times (1832.HK - news) have been tough for electrical retailers. DSG International (LSE: DSGI.L - news) (LSE: DSGI), which owns Currys and PC World, recently said group sales and like-for-like sales declined 6%. On Thursday it will be Kesa (LSE: KESA) that comes under the spotlight. The owner of Comet (COTN.SW - news) has been controlling costs in anticipation of another difficult year. However, more storm clouds are looming on the horizon for the two chain stores. The American electrical giant Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - news) plans to enter the UK market next year.

It's not been the best of time for Argos either. This may explain why owner Home Retail Group (LSE: HOME) is considering bringing forward its post-Christmas sales to December. Another reason may be the Treasury's plan to reverse the cut in VAT on 1 January 2010. Home Retail Group is pencilled in for a trading update on Thursday.

Finally, Champion Shares favourite IG Group (LSE: IGG) will provide a trading update on Wednesday. The shares have climbed 40% since the company's full-year results in July, when it said the new financial year had started well despite subdued market volatility.

Notable results and updates

Monday: Associated British Foods and WhitbreadTuesday: DS SmithWednesday: A&J Mucklow, Tasty (LSE: TAST.L - news) , Johnson Service Group (LSE: JSG.L - news) , Thorntons and IG GroupThursday: Genus (LSE: GNS.L - news) , Redrow (LSE: RDW.L - news) , Wm. Morrison, Home Retail Group and KesaFriday: JD Wetherspoon and Sthree (LSE: STHR.L - news)