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Week Ahead 21-25 January

A summary of key company announcements expected in the coming week
January 18, 2013

Welcome to the week ahead, our summary of the forthcoming key company announcements. Companies are no longer obliged to notify the London Stock Exchange (LSE) of results and trading updates, so this list does not claim to be comprehensive. You can read company announcements on at http://announce.ft.com and our daily online news summaries record all key company announcements and business press headlines.

Monday 21 January

Interim: City of London Investment Group

AGM: John Lewis of Hungerford

Economics: Rightmove house prices

Tuesday 22 January

Trading statements: Cairn Energy, Fresnillo, Optos, SABMiller

AGM: Marston's

Economics: Public sector borrowing, CBI trends - total orders, selling prices, CBI business optimism

Wednesday 23 January

Final: Unilever

Trading statements: BHP Billiton, Britvic, Close Brothers, Findel, Hochschild Mining, Land Securities, Sage, WH Smith

AGMs: Enegi Oil, Independent Resources, Redefine International, WH Smith, Topps Tiles

Economics: Unemployment data, Average earnings

Thursday 24 January

Final: Chemring

Trading statements: Anglo Platinum, APR Energy, Carphone Warehouse, easyJet, FirstGroup, Invensys, London Mining, Paypoint, St James's Place

AGM: Smiths News

EGM: Rexam

Economics: BBA house purchase loans, CBI reported sales

Little has been going right for defence contractor Chemring (CHG). Major markets are drying up, orders are being delayed elsewhere and a new product has suffered technical problems. The company issued two profit warnings in the second half of last year and Carlyle, a potential white knight, walked away from a bid. In the circumstances, it was no surprise that chief executive David Price lost his job, so it's up to new boss Mark Papworth to stop the rot.

Expectations are high. Mr Papworth ran the gas turbines services division at Wood Group and oversaw a strategic review that delivered a big increase in profits, but repeating the feat at Chemring will not be easy. Revenue for the year to 31 October 2012 rose just 2 per cent to £740m and an order book of £760m is £118m lighter than a year before. Analysts at Investec Securities think underlying pre-tax profit will have slumped 41 per cent to £70.8m in the latest two-month trading period. We know the numbers are poor, so much will depend on what Mr Papworth says when the results are published on Thursday 24 January. Restoring credibility and operational efficiency will be crucial.

Friday 25 January

Final: Ecofin Water & Power Opportunities

Trading statements: Anglo American, Covidien, William Hill

AGM: Infrastrata

EGM: Coal of Africa

Economics: Fourth-quarter GDP

Shares going ex-dividend on 23 January

CompanyDividend (p)Payment
Anite0.57515 Feb
Avation1.0522 Feb
City of London Inv Trust3.5228 Feb
Compass14.125 Feb
Dewhurst4.6815 Feb
F&C Private Equity Tst 'Rtd Vtg'1.67514 Feb
Fletcher King0.7522 Feb
Gooch & Housego3.21 Mar
Impax Asset Management0.7520 Feb
RWS13.4822 Feb
Shaftesbury6.0515 Feb
SSE25.222 Mar
Titon0.522 Feb

The ex-dividend date is the first day on which it is no longer possible to buy the shares and qualify for the dividend. Ex-days are almost always a Wednesday. The record date is usually two days after the ex-date. The payment day is the day on which the funds are transferred to shareholders.