THE WEEK AHEAD

Today

Interim results Bunzl, Petrofac, Total Produce, Nordgold Economics Net lending to individuals m/m (UK), M4 money supply m/m (UK), CB consumer confidence (US)

Tomorrow

Ahead of its interim results, Dublin-headquartered builders’ merchants Grafton Group has already revealed revenue for the six months to June 30 has increased by 13.3pc to £1.23bn and by 11.7pc in constant currency.

Investors will be keen to find out what impact the Brexit vote has had on the DIY group, which has operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Chief executive Gavin Slark has already said the referendum has created “uncertainty about the near-term outlook and prospects for the economy”, which he says is likely to weigh on demand in the new housing and RMI markets this year.

However, after its peers unveiled satisfactory results, analysts at Peel Hunt reckon Grafton will broadly match these numbers. Gavin Jago, of Peel Hunt, said: “While we do not expect it to be easy to achieve growth in the UK RMI market over the next few years, we believe Grafton has scope to expand its share as well as benefiting from growth in Ireland.” Interim results Grafton Group, Fisher (James) & Sons, HSS Hire Group, The Gym Group, 888 Holdings, Irish Continental Group Trading update Punch Taverns, Diploma Economics GfK consumer confidence (UK), ADP non-farm employment change (US), Chicago PMI (US), unemployment rate (EU), CPI flash estimate y/y (EU)

Thursday

The UK’s largest self-storage firm, Safestore Holdings, will publish a trading update for the three months ended July 31 and, after disappointing interim results, investors will be keen to find out if it is still on track to deliver a robust set of full-year results.

Earlier this year, the FTSE 250 company reported a 21pc slide in profits in the six months of the year to £49.1m, while revenues rose 7.3pc to £54.1m. The London-listed group blamed a reduced rate of growth in the value of investment properties for the slump in profits.

Investors’ attention will also focus on its recent acquisition of rival Space Maker for £43m, which it completed before July 29, and the synergies achieved from the deal.

After a better-thanexpected fourth-quarter trading update, recruitment firm Hays is forecast to post full-year earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of around £177m. However, the London-listed group has experienced weakness in its UK market due to cuts in local government and healthcare jobs which have hit profits. Analysts at UBS reckon “no token special dividend is likely” and the investment bank expects “a pronounced slowdown to start” next year due to a slowing in the UK division.

In July, management noted it was too early to update investors on the impact of Brexit, but signalled they will try to provide one in September. Full-year results Alumasc Group, Hays Interim results Stilo International Trading update Safestore Holdings Economics Manufacturing PMI (UK), unemployment claims (US), final manufacturing PMI (US), ISM manufacturing PMI (US), final manufacturing PMI (EU)

Friday

Economics Construction PMI (UK), nonfarm employment change (US), factory orders m/m (US), PPI m/m (EU)