LONDON (ShareCast) - With BHP Billiton’s results out of the way it’s the turn of its bid target Rio Tinto to strike a blow in the propaganda war in the increasingly fractious bid battle.
BHP Billiton posted record profits thanks to the jump in commodity prices, higher production and success in passing on higher costs to customers, and Rio Tinto’s results are likely to impress for much the same reason.
Tuesday is a big day for oil company announcements with Cairn Energy, Hardy Oil & Gas and Wood Group all reporting, just as the oil price starts to show signs of life again.
Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy has refocused on exploration after demerging its Indian business last year and has high hopes for its Greenland prospects. The company was awarded exploration rights in January of this year for six blocks covering around 52,000 square kilometres off the west coast of Greenland.
Cairn’s founder and chief executive, Sir Bill Gammell, believes “Greenland has billions of barrels of potential” and so an update on test drilling will be eagerly awaited..
Later in the week attention turns to online gaming with Partygaming and 888 Holdings declaring interims.
Earlier this month 888 reported a 36% rise in second quarter operating income and said it has made a good start to the third quarter. It will be interesting to see whether the Olympic Games has proved a distraction, luring players away from online poker, or a boon, offering punters the opportunity to bet on more sporting events.
If PartyGaming’s experience is anything to go by, the games will have proved a distraction. The online gaming group claimed last month that its revenues had been hit by customers being lured away by the Euro 2008 football tournament. Though the company does offer the opportunity for customers to bet on sporting events, this side of the business is dwarfed by the online poker and casino games.
The group expects full-year results will meet expectations, but legal issues in the US remain a drag on the share price, with a settlement with the US Department of Justice still to be negotiated.
Market research group Taylor Nelson Sofres, the subject of unwelcome bid interest from WPP Group, gets the chance to toughen up its shareholders’ resistance to WPP’s offer with interim results due on Wednesday.
All regions are expected to contribute to growth, with Europe and ALM (Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa) continuing their strong performance, although more modest growth is seen in North America.
Tuesday August 26
INTERIMS
Aggreko, Axon Group, BATM Advanced, Blackrock International Land, Bovis Homes Group, Cairn Energy, CRH, Dmatek, Hardy Oil & Gas, John Wood Group, Judges Capital, Nanette Real Estate, Novolip Regswi, Rio Tinto, UTV Media
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Charter European Trust, Dewhurst
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Hiscox
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Addax Petroleum
EGMS
Emerald Energy, FBD Holdings, Independent Resources
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Speedy Hire
Wednesday August 27
INTERIMS
1st Dental Laboratories, Axis-Shield, FBD Holdings, Glanbia, Johnston Press, Kingspan Group, Lookers, OJSC Pharmstandard, Paddy Power, Plaza Centers, SEGRO, Severfield-Rowen, Source BioScience, Stadium Group, Taylor Nelson Sofres, The Advantage Property Income Trust Limited, Yule Catto
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Brunner Investment Trust
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Admiral Group, Benfield Group, British Smaller Technology Companies VCT 2, Capita Group, FDM Group, Fidessa, Fresnillo, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Holders Technology, InterContinental Hotels Group, Liberty International, Mondi, Ocean Wilsons, Patsystems, Raymarine, Rights & Issues Trust, Robinson, ROK, Treatt, United Business Media, W H Ireland, Wren Homes, WSP Group, Xaar
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Canaccord Capital
FINALS
Ennstone, Hargreaves Lansdown, West Pioneer Properties (DI)
AGMS
Aortech International, Bglobal, Gasol, Triple Point
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Safestore
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Admiral Group, AssetCo, Blacks Leisure, British Smaller Technology Companies VCT 2, Datong, eServGlobal, Fletcher King, Henderson Smaller Cos. IT, HMV Group, Intelek, NCC Group, Spice, Stagecoach Group, Templeton Emerging Markets Inv Trust, Touchstone Group
Thursday August 28
INTERIMS
888 Holdings, Aer Lingus Group, AFI Development, Cattles, Corin Group, Globus Maritime, Goldenport, Havelock Europa, Henderson Group, Henry Boot, Heritage Oil, IMI, ING UK Real Estate Income Trust, IP Group, Kazakhmys, Kiln, Kingdom Hotel, Macfarlane Group, Melrose Resources, MWB Group Holdings Uts, New World Resources, Ote Ads, Parkwood Holdings, Pinewood-Shepperton, Rugby Estates Investment Trust, Savills, SMG, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Styles & Wood, Tolent, Vernalis
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Ld
FINALS
Ceramic Fuel Cells, Impala Platinum
EGMS
Promethean India, Scottish Investment Trust
AGMS
Aberdeen New Dawn, Berkeley Group Holdings Units, Cohort, Dart Group, DQ Entertainment, Innovision Research & Technology, John Swan, New Century AIM VCT, Strategic Natural Resources
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
John Swan, Northern Foods
QUARTERLY RESULTS
Ote Ads
Friday August 29
INTERIMS
Bloomsbury Publishing, Brammer, Cadogan Petroleum, Charles Taylor, Chesnara, Dana Petroleum, Derwent London, Development Securities, Gem Diamonds, Hardy Underwriting Bermuda, Inion, JKX Oil & Gas, New Star Asset Management Group, PartyGaming, Restaurant Group, Rightmove, Salamander Energy, SVG Capital, T Clarke, Trafficmaster, Unite Group, XCounter AB
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Anglogold Ash, Beazley Group, Chemring Group, Domino's Pizza UK & IRL, Edinburgh UK Tracker, Independent Investment Trust, Invista Real Estate Investment Management Holdings, Phoenix VCT, Reed Elsevier
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Bankers Investment Trust, Prodesse
EGMS
Amtel, F&C Asset Management
AGMS
Biocare Solutions, BlueCrest AllBlue Fund, Oriel Resources, The Indian Film Company, UBC Media Group, Van Dieman Mines
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
British Polythene
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Artemis Alpha, Huveaux, Kewill, Latham (James), MS International, Prologic
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