Week Ahead: M&S, BoE rate decision

Retail giant Marks & Spencer brings out a fourth quarter trading update on Wednesday and broker Matrix Group is expecting like for like (LFL) sales of general merchandise (GM) to "fall out of bed" as the comparative figures are "ultra tough".Unlike last year, "this quarter's figures will not be boosted ... by the launch of the post-Christmas sale or by Easter. The figures may look grisly (we forecast -5.0% GM LFL, consensus is -6.2%), but the long-term story is healthier," Matrix analyst Tom Gadsby says."Food sales should have held up. We forecast +1.5% LFL vs consensus of 1.2%. Kantar food retail market share data suggest a fall off in the past few weeks. The timing of Easter is material in this fall, so the food-sales figures should rebound in Q1 2011/12, we believe," Gadsby added.On Thursday the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will announce its decision on its key lending rate and also on the quantitative easing programme.Since the last meeting the Budget has been announced and with it the downgrading of growth projections for the UK economy, That, despite the worsening inflation outlook, is likely to ensure that those in favour of holding off on an interest rate hike will remain in the majority. Monday April 04INTERIMSNanoco GroupINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAshmore Group, Colefax GroupQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEJP Morgan Chase & CoINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSProducer Price Index (EU) (10:00)FINALSGlobaltrans Investment GDR (Reg S), Graphite Enterprise Trust, Gulfsands Petroleum, Individual Restaurant Company, John Laing Infrastructure, Photon Kathaas Productions (DI), Public Service Properties Inves (DI)tments Ltd., Specialist Energy Group, Valiant PetroleumANNUAL REPORTCapita GroupAGMSBank Audi SAL- Audi Saradar Group GDR (Reg S), XP Power Ltd. (DI)UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSPMI Construction (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECharter European Trust, St. Modwen PropertiesTuesday April 05INTERIMSNext Fifteen CommunicationsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSFOMC Interest Rate Minutes (US) (19:00)ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)ISM Services (US) (15:00)PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)PMI Services (EU) (09:00)PMI Services (GER) (08:55)Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)GMSAfrican Aura Mining Inc.FINALSAsia Digital Holdings, Bond International Software, Dillistone Group, ING UK Real Estate Income Trust Ltd., IRET Securities Ltd Zero Div PrefEGMSScotty GroupAGMSJarvis Securities, Porvair, Signet Global Fixed Income Strategies Ltd.UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSOfficial Reserves (09:30)PMI Composite (09:30)PMI Services (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBrewin Dolphin Holdings, THB GroupWednesday April 06INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECarclo, Diageo, Hargreaves Lansdown, Park Group, RicardoINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEBegbies Traynor Group, Haynes Publishing Group, Manchester & London Inv Trust, Maxima Holdings, St Ives, WolseleyQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEInvestors Capital Trust 'A' Shares, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Verizon CommunicationsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSCrude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)Factory Orders (GER) (11:00)GDP (2nd release) (EU) (10:00)MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)PMI Construction (GER) (08:55)Q4Marks & Spencer GroupGMSAscent Resources, Sandvine Corp., St IvesFINALSPrezzoIMSSMisys, Robert Walters, XP Power Ltd. (DI)SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEMurray International Trust, SavillsAGMSBaronsmead VCT 3, Octopus Titan VCT 4, RCM Technology Trust, Sandvine Corp.UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBRC Shop Price Index (00:01)Industrial Production (09:30)Manufacturing Production (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAvesco Group, Electronic Data Processing, Independent Inv TrustFINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE32Red, Acencia Debt Strategies Ltd., Arena Leisure, Athelney Trust, Bluehone AIM VCT 2, Bodycote, Chesnara, China Shoto, Dialight, Flying Brands Ltd. Units, Glanbia, HGCapital Trust, Holidaybreak, IDOX, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Logica, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Nichols, Novae Group, Pearson, Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), RAB Capital, Rotork, Savills, Stanley Gibbons Group, Tikit Group, Ultra Electronics Holdings, WSP GroupQ1Sandvine Corp.Thursday April 07INTERIMSMatchtech GroupINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDechra Pharmaceuticals, Oxford Instruments, Wilmington GroupQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEGlaxoSmithKlineINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Credit (US) (20:00)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)Industrial Production (GER) (11:00)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)GMSLondon Capital Group Holdings, Western & OrientalFINALSAsterand, HydroDec Group, OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works GDR (Reg S)IMSSHaysAGMSCQS Rig Finance Fund Ltd., London Capital Group Holdings, Mentum Inc., NBNK Investments, OJSC LSR Group GDR (Reg S), Scottish American Inv CompanyTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSHalfords Group, VictrexUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDomino Printing Sciences, Henderson Private Equity Inv Trust, Thomas Cook GroupFriday April 08INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAlumasc Group, Centaur Media, Go-Ahead Group, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, Sara Lee Corp.QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEBritish Assets TrustINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (GER) (07:00)Current Account (GER) (07:00)Retail Price Index (GER) (07:00)Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)GMSBlackstar Group, Emerging Metals Ltd. (DI), Henderson Global Property Companies Ltd., VislinkAGMSVislinkUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSProducer Price Index (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAvon Rubber, Baronsmead VCT 3, Octopus Titan VCT 1, Octopus Titan VCT 2, Safestore Holdings, XP Power Ltd. (DI)---jh