Week Ahead: Poundland riding the hard discounting wave

Retailers are to the fore this week, with results from Poundland especially interesting, in view of the firm's takeover bid for 99p stores.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal may breach competition rules following an initial probe.

The firm now faces a further, more detailed investigation as the watchdog found its proposed takeover could lead to a "substantial lessening of competition” in 80 areas where the two chains overlap. Poundland may have to close 80 stores.

Fashion firm Burberry, which reports on Wednesday, also has a bit of a takeover haze surrounding itself, with the shares rising on Thursday on speculation that the iconic British fashion house could fall prey to a US rival or private equity groups.

On the trading front, investors will be keeping an eye out for any signs of slackening demand in the crucial Chinese market.

Thursday sees interims from high street stalwarts Debenhams and WH Smith, plus fast moving consumer goods giant Unilever.Johnnie Walker whisky maker Diageo issues an interim management statement on Thursday, covering its fiscal third quarter.

The second quarter performance was good, and the company will have been cheered by the cut in whisky duty in the recent Budget. As with Burberry, the Chinese market is increasingly important to the company.Significant announcements expectedMonday

Finals: Netdimensions (LON:NETD), Safestay LON:SSTY), Simigon (LON:SIM)

Trading statements: Carr's Milling Industries (LON:CRM)Tuesday

Finals: Corac Group (LON:CRA), Flowtech Fluidpower(LON:FLO), Horizon Discovery Group (LON:HZD), Keyw s Studios (LON:KWS), MP Evans Group (LON:MPE), Manx Telecom (LON:MANX)

Trading statements: Ashmore group (LON:ASHM), Michael Page International (LON:MPI), Poundland Group (LON:PLND)

Economic: UK - Inflation. EU - Industrial production. US - Retail sales, Producer pricesWednesday

Finals: Belvoir Lettings (LON:BLV), JD Sports Fashion (LON:JD.), Walker Greenbank (LON:WGB)

Interims: Tracsis (LON:TRCS)

Trading statements: Burberry Group (LON:BRBY), Fresnillo (LON:FRES), Hunting (LON:HTG), Jupiter Fund Management (LON:JUP)

Economic: AP - Chinese GDP. EU - ECB interest rate decision and press conference. US - Industrial production. Release of Beige Book.Thursday

Finals: Epwin Group 0.05p (LON:EPWN), Inditherm (LON:IDM), Mobile Tornado Group (LON:MBT)

Interims: Debenhams (LON:DEB), Unilever (LON:ULVR), WH Smith (LON:SMWH)

Trading statements: Diageo (LON:DGE), e2v technologies (LON:E2V), Ferrexpo (LON:FXPO), Hargreaves Lansdown (LON:HL.), Mothercare (LON:MTC), Persimmon (LON:PSN), SABMiller (LON:SAB)

Economic: UK - RICS house price balance. US - Weekly jobless claimsFriday

Finals: Havelock Europa (LON:HVE), Midatech Pharma (LON:MTPH)

Interims: X5 Retail Group (LON:89VS)

Economic: EU - Current account; Inflation UK - Unemployment. US - Inflation; Michigan consumer sentiment

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