Business Information Service: This Week

Monday

Interim figures from Eurotunnel should throw light on unresolved financial disputes. Highland Distilleries' year-end profits should be up 38 per cent at pounds 39.7m. Lucas Industries' final dividend may well be cut because of the bleak outlook for its automotive and aerospace operations. Profits before tax should rise to pounds 51.5m from pounds 22.5m, however. UK September producer prices should show factory output price inflation fairly steady at 4.4 per cent compared to 4.3 per cent in the year to August. July UK trade figures are expected to be slightly worse than the pounds 1.2bn deficit in June. Most US markets will close for Columbus Day.

Tuesday

The long-awaited German court ruling on whether the Maastricht treaty violates the constitution is due.

Wednesday

No change is expected in the headline rate of UK retail price inflation in September from the 1.7 per cent recorded in August. The up trend in UK manufacturing output is forecast to have continued in August, with a monthly rise of 0.4 per cent expected.

Thursday

September's figures are expected to show UK unemployment unchanged. Underlying average earnings growth in the year to August is expected to have held steady at 3.5 per cent. US retail sales for September are expected to show a rise of 0.5 per cent. US producer prices, also for September, should rise by 0.2 per cent.

Friday

The US consumer price index for September is expected to record a 0.2 per cent rise compared to 0.3 per cent in August.