Tuesday preview: US retail sales, Wood in the spotlight

Investors' focus on Tuesday will be on a raft of key economic indicators due out in the States.

They include readings for industrial production and retail sales in February, as well as for business inventories and import prices.

No major economic data are scheduled to be published in the UK.

Across the Channel, finance ministers from the European Union's 27 states will meet to discuss the current situation and way forwards on tax given the challenges from digitalisation and the economic situation, said Barclays Research.

They will also discuss the economic situation and outlook in Europe in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the corporate side of things, UBS's Amy Wong expects Wood will post second half sales and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of approximately $3.5bn and $327m, respectively.

On an implied EBITDA margin of 9.2%, that would be compatible with the company's own guidance for full-year revenues and EBITDA of $7.6bn and $620-640m.

Wong had also penciled-in net debt of $1.04bn (Wood: $1.03bn).

Looking out to 2021, consensus was anticipating the Energy engineering and consultancy group would post full-year 6% drop in sales to reach $7.2bn and and EBITDA of $617m (8.6% margin).

The company's focus however is precisely on delivering strong margins at the operating level, she pointed out

Tuesday 16 March

INTERIMS

Ferguson, Litigation Capital Management Limited (DI), SCS Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Merchants Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (14:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (13:15)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)

Industrial Production (US) (13:15)

Retail Sales (US) (12:30)

Retail Sales Less Autos (US) (12:30)

Wholesale 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)

GMS

Plus500 Ltd (DI)

FINALS

4Imprint Group, Antofagasta, Bakkavor Group , Bango, BioPharma Credit , Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S Cat 3/144A, Close Brothers Group, Computacenter, Costain Group, Fintel, Greggs, Harworth Group, Joint Stock Company National Atomic Company Kazatomprom GDR (Reg S) , KRM22, Polypipe Group , Sabre Insurance Group, STV Group, Team17 Group, Unite Group, Wood Group (John)

AGMS

Blue Prism Group, Starvest

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

C&C Group