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The week ahead

This article is more than 17 years old

Monday October 16

EMI, the world's third largest music group, will give a trading update for the first half of the year. In the summer EMI and Warner Music abandoned merger talks after a European court struck down a planned merger between Sony Music and Bertelsmann's BMG, but speculation continues about a renewed merger attempt. Although it has a roster that includes artists like Robbie Williams, EMI lacks a presence in the US market - something a merger with Warner would give it. EMI is also now the only leading publisher that has not signed a deal with either YouTube or MySpace.

INTERIMS: Alexon FINALS: Antisoma, Bulgarian Property Developments, Carter & Carter, MJ Gleeson AGMs: Barratt Developments, Cozart EGMs: MFI Furniture TRADING STATEMENT: EMI Group ECONOMICS: Rightmove UK house price survey, London Sept retail sales

Tuesday October 17

Sportingbet announces its preliminary final results for the year. The online gambling company on Friday announced the sale of its US-facing business for $1 to Antigua-based Jazette Enterprises, after the US passed legislation outlawing online gambling. The sale removes the legal uncertainty that has been hanging over Sportingbet for some time - and saves it significant closure costs - but leaves open the question of how viable its remaining business, focused on customers in Europe and Australia. Sportingbet's shares peaked at nearly £5 in May but lost two-thirds of their value after the US Senate passed the legislation this week and dropped further on Friday to 64p.

INTERIMS: Clinton Cards, LiDCO FINALS: Asian Citrus Holdings, Sportingbet AGMs: Diageo EGMs: None scheduled ECONOMICS: UK RICS Sept house price survey, UK Sept CPI, Merrill Lynch fund managers survey

Wednesday October 18

Rail and bus operator Stagecoach will give a trading update for the first half of the year. It last month won the franchise for the expanded South West network with a £1.2bn bid. With 160 million passengers a year, the network is the UK's busiest commuter franchise and one of the most lucrative. The Scottish company has said it will take some seats out of trains to pack in more standing passengers on the commuter routes and expects the franchise to generate up to £20m in the first few years. It may also provide details about a long-awaited return of funds to shareholders through a special dividend.

INTERIMS: LiDCO Thomson Intermedia FINALS: Biofusion JJB Sports Manganese Bronze AGMs: Adventis Group EGMs: None scheduled NEW BUSINESS FIGURES: Legal & General (Q3) ECONOMICS: BoE MPC meeting minutes

Thursday October 19

Mothercare makes a trading statement. Strong sales at Mothercare's overseas stores have so far helped Mothercare to buck the UK retail downturn. Sales at the chain's franchised international stores were up 28.5% in the year to April 1, helped by 46 new openings.

INTERIMS: Charterhouse Communications, RDF Media FINALS: None scheduled AGMs: None scheduled EGMs: None scheduled TRADING STATEMENT: Mothercare NEW BUSINESS FIGURES Prudential (Q3) ECONOMICS: UK Sept PSNCR, UK Sept retail sales, UK Sept prov M4/M4 lending, UK CML Sept mortgage lending, UK BBA Sept mortgage lending, UK BSA Sept mortgage lending

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