The Week Ahead: Fashion is in focus this week

It’s a quiet day in the corporate calendar today

Fashion is in focus this week as retailers covering everything from the high street to high end report.

Burberry has a trading statement on Wednesday with rumours swirling that the luxury group could be a target for either private equity or Louis Vuitton and Dior owner LVMH. Analysts are expecting strong numbers from the trenchcoat maker, with RBC Capital Markets pencilling in a 9 per cent rise in second-half revenue thanks to online success and a euro boost.

At the other end of the fashion spectrum JD Sports also has annual results midweek, while Thursday sees half-year figures from Mothercare and the department stores chain Debenhams. Numis expects continued troubles for Debenhams, forecasting flat sales in the second half and continued pressure on margins. But Andrew Wade at the broker says he is “encouraged that management are now addressing some of the difficult challenges facing the business”.

It’s a quiet day in the corporate calendar today, with just a trading statement from the animal feed supplier Carr’s.

Tomorrow brings full-year numbers from the biotech firm Horizon Discovery and Manx Telecom. The asset manager Ashmore has a trading update, as do the recruiter Michael Page and retailer Poundland.

After historic zero per cent inflation in February, tomorrow’s CPI figure is forecast to show a mild strengthening to 0.1 per cent in March, according to Investec’s economics team.

The broker Walker Greenbank has annual results on Wednesday, while the software firm Tracsis has half-year figures. Oil services group Hunting has a trading statement the same day, along with Jupiter Fund Management. Panmure Gordon warns that inflows to Jupiter’s funds could have fallen 50 per cent in the first quarter, but says it will likely get a boost this year from the unlocking of pension cash.

Full-year figures will be released by the building products group Epwin on Thursday, while Diageo, Ferrexpo, Hargreaves Lansdown, Persimmon, Unilever and WH Smith all have interim statements. In economic news on Friday unemployment and average earning figures are due.