Week ahead: Wetherspoons, Netflix, BoJ
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Friday 16 Jan 2026
(Sharecast News) - Next week sees the release of updates from the likes of Wetherspoons and B&M, while across the pond, quarterly earnings from streaming giant Netflix are due.
Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, pointed out that Netflix is heading into its fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday "embroiled in its own epic drama, locked in a fierce battle to buy Warner Bros, while Paramount keeps pushing its hostile bid from the sidelines".
"Warner's board has repeatedly rejected Paramount's approach, reinforcing Netflix as the preferred buyer, but the ongoing uncertainty is keeping pressure on Netflix's share price," he noted.
"With regulatory scrutiny and political noise growing around the deal, there are likely to be more twists to come before this blockbuster reaches any kind of resolution.
"Amid all that off-screen drama, Netflix's underlying performance looks solid. Last quarter's 17% revenue growth is expected to be repeated, with a strong suite of festive content likely to have landed well. Still, with the takeover saga dominating the narrative and clouding visibility, it feels unlikely Netflix will unlock its full potential until the dust settles."
On Wednesday, Wetherspoons will issue a second-quarter trading update, while JD Sports will update the market on Q4 trading and luxury fashion Burberry will post a Q3 update. A peak trading update is due from electricals retailer Currys on the same day.
As far as Wetherspoons is concerned, Derren Nathan, head of equity research at HL, said the update will include the pub chain's festive trading season.
"It's also the group's first steer on numbers since the November Budget. Coming into the period, management exercised some caution over the outlook, but industry data suggest Christmas revellers were out in force. In recent years, J D Wetherspoon has consistently outperformed the wider pub market and, with sentiment having strengthened since the company last addressed the market, investors look to be expecting more of the same.
"However, changes to the business rates regime, and further increases in the National Living Wage, are putting further pressure on pub landlords' operating costs. The government is now expected to offer additional support for pubs, but the details are yet to be confirmed. Analysts will be looking for commentary on the cost base, cashflows and the group's mitigation plans."
Thursday will bring a trading update from Primark owner Associated British Foods, as well as a Q3 statement from discount retailer B&M, and a Q4 update from Wickes.
On the macro front, Chinese fourth-quarter GDP figures will be released on Monday, along with fixed asset investment, industrial production and retail sales data. On Tuesday, the latest policy decision from the People's Bank of China will be announced.
On the Chinese data, ING said: "We expect growth to slow to 4.5% year-on-year in the fourth quarter and end the year at 5.0% YoY overall. Activity data is likely to show that the domestic economy remains weak. Fixed-asset investment is likely to slip further into negative territory, to -3.2% YoY, and retail sales will slow to 0.9%.
"The bright spot should be industrial production, which we expect to rebound to 5.0% YoY, supported by external demand. Data on 70-city property prices is likely to show the deceleration trend continued through year-end. On Tuesday, we will get a loan prime rate update; we expect no change."
A policy decision from the Bank of Japan will be announced on Friday. Following a rate hike in December, the BoJ is widely expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 0.75%.
In the UK, investors will turn their attention to the latest jobs numbers on Tuesday, with the unemployment rate and average earnings for November set for release. The consumer price index for December is due on Wednesday.
Investors will also be keeping an eye on any developments at the World Economic Forum, which kicks off in Davos on Monday and goes on all week.
Monday January 19
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (EU) (09:00)
EGMS
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI), Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited Gdr (Each Repr 5 A Shs Rmb1) (Reg S)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Marshalls, XP Power Ltd. (DI)
Tuesday January 20
INTERIMS
Kromek Group
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
Q3
Big Yellow Group
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Pembroke Vct B
AGMS
Goldplat
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
4Imprint Group, Cairn Homes (CDI), Gear4music (Holdings), Kier Group, QinetiQ Group
Wednesday January 21
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Northern 2 VCT, Northern 3 VCT, Northern Venture Trust, Speedy Hire
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Q3
Burberry Group
Q4
PensionBee Group
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Currys , Galliford Try, ICG, JD Sports Fashion, Wetherspoon (J.D.)
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (07:00)
Producer Price Index (07:00)
Retail Price Index (07:00)
Thursday January 22
INTERIMS
Ilika, TheWorks.Co.Uk
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Sirius Real Estate Ltd.
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Brickability Group , City of London 4.2% Cum 1st Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust 4.2% Non-Cum 2nd Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust Preference Ord Stk 14% Non-Cumulative 1, MS International, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., Smithson Investment Trust, Solid State
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
City of London Inv Trust, M Winkworth
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
GMS
Coro Energy, Time Out Group
FINALS
Hardide
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Mandarin Oriental International (Bermuda), Mandarin Oriental International (Jersey), Mandarin Oriental International (Singapore)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Unicorn AIM VCT
AGMS
Auction Technology Group , Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Associated British Foods, B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Harbour Energy , TheWorks.Co.Uk, Wickes Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Fevara, WH Smith
Friday January 23
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Baltic Classifieds Group, Big Yellow Group, Cranswick, Discoverie Group, Gore Street Energy Storage Fund , Latham (James), One Health Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Patria Private Equity Trust
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Thor Explorations Ltd (DI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Final) (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Thor Explorations Ltd (DI)
AGMS
SSP Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Retail Sales (07:00)
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