Weekly outlook: FCA to virtually front up to the public and AG Barr updates markets

The key events for UK wealth managers for the week starting 21 September

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Monday 21 September

  • Full-year results from Finsbury Foods
  • First-half results from Informa
  • Trading update from Avon Rubber

Tuesday 22 September

  • First-half results from Irn-Bru maker AG Barr

The drinks maker was dumped from the FTSE 250 earlier this month. With a 14% stake, Lindsell Train is one of its largest shareholders and suffered a knock to its portfolios as a result.

  • Kingfisher H1 2020 results

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said the DIY retailer and B&Q owner has seen its shares storm back since the start of the year, when it was demoted from the FTSE 100 with shares trading at their lowest level since 2008.

Former boss Veronique Laury was replaced after a failed turnaround plan and replaced with Thierry Garnier, who helped buoy sentiment with a positive July trading update showing sales up 21.6% on a like-for-like basis. “A phased reopening of physical shops in the UK and France helped a lot here, as did an absolute boom in online sales – they were up more than 200% year-on-year in June,” said Mould.

Nevertheless, he did not believe Kingfisher will be confident enough to provide earnings guidance for the fiscal year to the start of 2021. Therefore analysts would be looking at a number of key figures in the H1 results: Q2 like-for-like sales; geographic sales trends; pre-tax profits; the dividend; and the balance sheet.

  • Trading update from TUI
  • UK Government borrowing figures
  • US existing homes sales data
  • Tesla’s annual investor meeting

Wednesday 23 September

  • UK flash PMIs for September

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said last month’s figures looked “pretty good” as the UK emerged from its Q2 lockdown. Manufacturing reached 55.2, the best number since February 2018 and services hit 58.8, the highest mark since April 2015.

  • First-half results from kettle safety specialist Strix
  • Trading update from Upper Crust and Café Ritazza owner SSP Group
  • Interest rate decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia
  • US oil inventory data

Thursday 24 September

  • FCA annual public meeting

The Financial Conduct Authority will hold its yearly public meeting virtually this year with the public able to login from afar from 10am. Incoming chief executive Nikhil Rathi does not take up his post until later in the year so interim boss Chris Woolard (pictured) will be taking his place. There will be opening remarks from chairman Charles Randell and a Q&A afterwards.

  • FCA consultation (CP20/9) ‘Driving value for money in pensions’ closes
  • MPs hear evidence on ‘Greening the post-Covid recovery’

MPs on the environmental audit committee will hear evidence on how the UK can deliver an environmentally sustainable economic response to Covid-19 from ClientEarth, Positive Money and the Bank of England among others. Later in the morning, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee will hear from the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Unions Congress and London School of Economics on the UK’s industrial growth strategy for the post-pandemic world.

  • Full-year results from DFS Furniture, construction group SIG and veterinary services group CVS
  • First-half results from Cineworld
  • Trading update from United Utilities
  • Interest rate decision from the Swiss National Bank
  • US new homes sales data

Friday 25 September

  • FCA Discussion Paper (DP20/2) ‘Prudential requirements for Mifid investment firms’ closes
  • UK consumer confidence – GfK

Mould said: “The post-lockdown improvement looked to peter out a bit in August, when the reading stayed stuck at -27, so retailers, publicans, restaurateurs, not to mention politicians and economists, will be looking for some improvement.”

  • Trading statement fromPennon
  • US durable goods orders

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