Hello and welcome to the working week.
It could be said that science has been the theme of the past pandemic-filled 18 months, but over the next seven days this discipline will gain particular attention, alongside some new technology announcements.
Firstly, it is Nobel Prize week, with the gongs for physics, chemistry and medicine being named by the judging committee in Stockholm.
Long gone are the days when operating system launches get the film premiere treatment — that peaked with Windows 95, which I attended as a young technology reporter at a gala event in London’s Leicester Square. However, the unveiling of Windows 11 on Tuesday is still a significant moment for Microsoft, which hopes its new software will lift sales of a new range of laptops that go on sale the same day. This also seems a good moment to plug the very good #TechFT newsletter.
Prepare yourself also for political theatre from Boris “Follow the Science” Johnson. The British prime minister addresses the Conservative party’s conference in Manchester on Wednesday. Expect some trademark boosterism about green technology ahead of the COP26 UN climate change conference in Glasgow, which starts at the end of the month.
Thanks to all who have, through the power of internet technology, shared your views on The Week Ahead, enabling us to add our own upgrades to this service. Email me: jonathan.moules@ft.com
Companies
The Tesco juggernaut is gathering momentum again as will be witnessed from its earnings call on Wednesday. Away from the takeover battle for Wm Morrison, its sales outperformance against rivals has been the key story of the first half, according to analysts at HSBC.
Tesco’s share price has barely moved recently, possibly because it is perceived as too big to be a target for private equity bidders. However, the stock may get a lift if the supermarket can produce an upgrade to its full-year expectations.
Economic data
The vaccine bounce is not quite going to plan in the UK. The evidence so far is that an “autumn storm” is brewing. This forecast will be updated on Wednesday with the release of quarterly confidence data from the British Chambers of Commerce.
Key economic and company reports
Here is a more complete list of what to expect in terms of company reports and economic data this week.
Monday
Turkey, consumer price index data
UK, business activity, size and location data
US, factory order figures
Results: James Halstead FY, Quadrise Fuels FY
Tuesday
Australia, monthly central bank meeting
EU, monthly industrial production figures
EU, Italy, France, Germany, UK, US: IHS/Markit manufacturing and service sector Purchasing Managers’ Index figures
Greggs trading update
Luxembourg, Ecofin Council of all EU economic and finance ministers
UK, Office for National Statistics travel and tourism review
UK, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Q3 new car registrations
US, Census Bureau monthly vehicle sales data
US, Trade balance data
Results: Hotel Chocolat FY, PepsiCo Q3, SCS Group FY
Wednesday
EU, Eurostat publishes industrial production and retail sales figures
EU, IHS Markit productivity PMI
France, Germany, UK: IHS Markit construction PMI
Germany, monthly factory order figures
Imperial Brands trading update
New Zealand, central bank meeting
Nike AGM
Sweden, monthly GDP data
Topps Tiles trading update
UK, British Chambers of Commerce quarterly economic survey
US, monthly ADP employment report
Results: Netcall FY, Tesco 1H
Thursday
CMC Markets trading update
EU, minutes of last European Central Bank meeting
France, balance of trade figures
Germany, Industrial production figures
Italy, retail sales figures
Mondi trading update
UK, Halifax monthly house price index
UK, ONS quarterly productivity figures
UK, Office of Rail Regulation quarterly passenger rail usage statistics
US, initial jobless claims
Friday
Canada, US: monthly unemployment figures
China, Caixan general services PMI
Electrocomponents trading update
Germany, Japan: trade balance data
UK, Bank of England quarterly bulletin
US, non-farm payrolls
World events
Finally, here is a rundown of other events and milestones this week.
Monday
EU, the European Medicines Agency is expected to decide whether to endorse a booster for BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine
Sweden, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for medicine announced in Stockholm
US, Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas begins
Tuesday
Spain, business and innovation conference South Summit opens in Madrid
Sweden, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for physics unveiled
US, Microsoft launches the Windows 11 operating system
Wednesday
Sweden, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in chemistry announced
UK, British Film Institute’s 65th London Film Festival opens with the premiere of Netflix western The Harder They Fall starring Idris Elba and Regina King
UK, Boris Johnson’s speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester
Thursday
Sweden, Nobel Prize for literature announced
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem speaks at Council on Foreign Relations
US, New York Comic Con Metaverse begins
Friday
Czech Republic, parliamentary elections
Norway, winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize announced in Oslo
Saturday
Vatican City, Catholic Church synod opens in Rome
Sunday
Italy, the Barcolana, the world’s largest sailing regatta, is held in the Gulf of Trieste
Source: Economy - ft.com
