Sheer weight of investor numbers would have ensured that Eircom's first set of interim figures this Thursday attracted keen interest. Disillusionment over the stock's poor performance after initial euphoria will only increase the focus on the company and any comment it makes alongside the figures. Vodafone's planned bid for German telecoms giant Mannesmann will ensure close attention is paid to any comment from groups in the telecoms sector.
Monday
Results: ACS (Q3), Biohit (Q3), BTG (H1), Burtonwood Brewery (H1), Continente (Q3), Cropper (James) (H1), Disetronic (Q3), EMAP (H1), Innogenetics (Q3), L Gardner Group, NetCom (Q3), Renold (H1), Sysopen (Q3), TAG Heuer (Q3).
A.G.M.: CPL Resources, Henderson Japanese, Gartmore Smaller.
Meetings: Franco-German economic summit (Hattersheim, Germany); EU foreign ministers meet (Brussels); European Union agriculture ministers meet (Brussels to Tues).
Indicators: US business inventories (Sep) and Atlanta Federal Index (Oct); Japanese industrial production (Sep); Italian industrial production (Sep).
Others: Government publishes National Development Plan 2000-2006.
Tuesday
Results: Bayer (Q3), Berisford, BOC Gases, Glasgow Income Trust, Great Portland Estates (H1), Kvaerner (Q3), Libertel (H1), Macdonald Hotels (H1), Maelor (H1), Merant (H1), Merchant Retail Group (H1), Northern Foods (H1), Option Int'l (Q3), Paragon, Stena Line (Q3), Telefonica (Q3), Vodafone Group (H1), Vosper Thornycroft (H1), Workspace (H1).
A.G.M.: Middlesex Holdings (e.g.m.), Smiths Industries.
Meetings: US Federal Reserve's open market committee meets; Salomon Smith Barney hosts presentation on the impact of the Internet on European business (Merrion Hotel, Dublin); Irish Life & permanent chief executive Mr David Went addresses Dublin Chamber of Commerce lunch (Conrad Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: EMU labour cost index (Q2) and earnings (Q2); Irish consumer prices (Oct) and wholesale pirces (Oct); British retail prices (Oct); US industrial production (Oct) and capacity utilisation (Oct).
Others: European Court of Auditors releases 1998 annual report; Society for Actuaries in Ireland debate on the national pensions fund.
Wednesday
Results: Airtours (H1), Celltech Chiroscience (H1), Coloplast, Cranswick (H1), First Choice, Fiskars (Q3), Hewlett-Packard (Q4), IVG Holding (Q3), Land Securities (H1), Scottish and Southern Energy (H1).
A.G.M.: Eagles, Walt Disney (e.g.m.).
Meetings: Bank of France monetary policy council meets.
Indicators: British unemployment (Oct), average earnings (Sep) and unit wages (Sep); US consumer prices (Oct), building permits (Oct), housing starts (Oct) and real earnings (Oct).
Others: British Queen's speech on government's legislative agenda for new session of parliament; Marketing Institute breakfast on "The Advertising Industry in Ireland" (Dome Restaurant, Dublin).
Thursday
Results: Babcock Int'l Group (H1), ohler Uddeholm (Q3), Eircom (H1), Galen Holdings, Glemorangie (H1), Lufthansa (Q3), Scapa Group (H1), Starbucks (Q4), Storehouse (H1), Wigmore Property IT.
A.G.M.: Lendu Holdings, Manchester United, Pantheon Intl Partners, South Beach Concepts (e.g.m.), Waterman Partnership.
Meetings: European Central bank governing council meeting; European Union health ministers meet (Brussels); Irish Timber Growers Association national seminar on Developing Markets for Irish Forests and Their Products (UCD Industry Centre).
Indicators: Irish total external trade (Jul); British retail sales (Oct), M4 (Oct) and motor vehicle production (Oct); US international trade (Sep); German ifo business climate index (Oct); French trade balance (Sep); Italian consumer prices (Oct).
Others: Bank of International Settlements quarterly report on bank lending; Chambers of Commerce of Ireland annual dinner (Clontarf Castle, Dublin).
Friday
Results: Black Arrow Group (H1), Generali Holding (Q3), Kinowelt (Q3), Osbourne & Little (H1), VA Stahl (H1).
Meetings: EU Commissioner David Byrne addresses annual conference of Food and Drink Federation (Conrad Hotel, Dublin).
Indicators: EMU consumer prices (Oct).
