Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Marks and Spencer (M&S) is expected to underwhelm with its annual results on Friday as the retailer's clothing division continues to struggle. Analysts expect margins have been hit in the past year by heavy discounting on clothing and a price war among the major supermarkets. The group has been trying to turnaround its General Merchandise arm, which includes fashion items, but in the third quarter it reported a 2.1% fall in like-for-like sales.Numis said it sees margins at the division in the full-year declining 45 basis points (bp) but rising 70bp."As a result, consensus for full-year profit before tax has fallen to £625m, albeit some of the more recently published estimates are closer to £615m," the broker said. "For full-year 2015, consensus has settled around £710m, albeit more recently published estimates are closer to our forecast of £685m."On the macro-economic front the Bank of England (BoE) releases its latest policy decision. The central bank is forecast to leave interest rates at 0.5% and asset purchase at £375bn. Thursday April 10thINTERIMSWH SmithINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEWilmington GroupQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEGlaxoSmithKline, XP Power Ltd. (DI)INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSTrade Statistics (China)New loans (China) (10-15 April)M2 (China) (10-15 April)Industrial production (FR) (07:45)Consumer Price Index (FR) (07:45)Industrial production (IT) (09:00)Bloomberg Consumer Confidence (US) (14:45)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)ECB Monthly Bulletin (EU) (09:00)Import and Export Price Indexes (US) (13:30)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)Treasury Budget Statement (US) (19:00)Speech President Chicago Fed (11:30)FINALSAir Partner, Oxford Biomedica, Straight, Marks&SpencerANNUAL REPORTStock Spirits GroupIMSSAshmore Group, Hays, PZ Cussons, Mothercare, 888 HoldingsAGMSAdvance Developing Markets Fund Ltd., BP, Orange Polska S.A. GDR (Reg S), Primary Health Properties, Smith & NephewPRODUCTION RESULTSVedanta ResourcesTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSMothercare, Oxford InstrumentsUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)RICS Housing Market Survey (09:30)Speech BoE's Andy Haldane (21:45 BST)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATERio Tinto, Shore Capital Group Ltd.FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEFirst Quantum Minerals Ltd.RD