Tuesday preview: Kingfisher releases results in aftermath of collapsed Mr Bricolage deal
Annual results from B&Q owner Kingfisher will be in focus for investors on Tuesday, which come fresh off the news that the DIY retailer has abandoned its deal to buy French chain Mr Bricolage.
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The €275m planned purchase, first announced last summer, was scuppered at the last hurdle after some major shareholders of the French group opposed the deal.
Kingfisher had faced a 31 March deadline to obtain anti-trust clearances, but given that thee other party refused to grant an extension the deal collapsed.
The company said on Monday that it is now "considering all of its options" so investors will be watching out for any comments in this regard alongside its results.
Kingfisher's pre-tax profit is forecast to fall around 10% to £683m in the year ended 31 January 2015, as weakness in France and Poland offset strong growth in the UK, particularly at Screwfix.
A raft of economic data from the UK is also due for release on Tuesday, including consumer confidence, balance of payments, and the final estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product.
German unemployment data will also be under the spotlight, with the jobless rate expected to remain unchanged at 6.5% in March.
Eurozone consumer prices will also be in focus and are predicted to have fallen at an annual rate of 0.1% in March after a 0.3% decline in February.
Balance of Payments (09:30)
Consumer Confidence (09:30)
Current Account (09:30)
GDP (quarterly national accounts) (09:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:05)
Index of Services (09:30)
Tuesday March 31
INTERIMS
Inland Homes, James Halstead
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
BHP Billiton, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Custodian Reit , HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd, MedicX Fund Ltd., Premier Energy & Water Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)
Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00)
International Reserves (EU) (11:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)
FINALS
Avengardco Investments Public Ltd GDR, Chesnara, Christie Group, e-Therapeutics, InternetQ, Kingfisher, LiDCO Group, Martinco , MMC Norilsk Nickel ADR, PJSC Centre For Cargo Container Traffic Transcontainer GDR (Reg S)
ANNUAL REPORT
EMIS Group, Ferrexpo, Old Mutual
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Rensburg AIM VCT
AGMS
China Rerun Chemical Group Ltd (DI), ECR Minerals, Horizonte Minerals, Hume Capital Securities, IRF European Finance Investments Ltd (DI), Sula Iron & Gold, Turkiye is Bankasi A.S GDR C Shs (Reg S)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thomas Cook Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Payments (09:30)
Consumer Confidence (09:30)
Current Account (09:30)
GDP (quarterly national accounts) (09:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:05)
Index of Services (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Innovation Group, Northern Electricity Prf, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Capital Shares, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Income Shares, Temple Bar Inv Trust