Tuesday preview: BP, ARM, Sage

27th Jul 2009 17:18

BP, Royal Dutch Shell and US oil major Exxon Mobil all release results this week with BP starting the ball rolling on Tuesday with its second quarter update.Expectations for headline earnings range from $2.4bn to $3.3bn, versus a first quarter figure of $2.39bn, as the company benefits from higher oil prices. Broker Panmure Gordon is expecting the oil giant to announce a dividend of 14 cents.Chip designer ARM also announces second quarter results. Demand for the company's products has been strong, driven by the success of high-end mobile phones and low-end netbook computers. The revival in the value of sterling may have acted as a drag on top line growth, however.Software group Sage issues a trading statement covering its third quarter. The company's figures will also have suffered from recent sterling strength against the dollar, but of greater concern is how long the recession will last and how many of its small business customers will survive it. The company announced stringent cost cutting measures in May. Broker Numis is not expecting the company to announce another round of cuts tomorrow "although we still fear that they may be necessary in continental Europe at some point," the broker said.INTERIMSCroda, Informa, Provident Financial UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSCBI Distributive Trades Reported Volumes of SalesINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Confidence (US) (14:00)FINALSDatong, Dhir India Investments, Games Workshop Group, PZ CussonsEGMSMetals ExplorationAGMSAberdeen All Asia Inv Trust, Bezant Resources, Clean Air Power, designcapital, IS Pharma, Mobile Tornado, Rensburg Sheppards, Supercart, Tangent Communications, TR Property Inv Trust, TR Property Inv Trust Sigma Shares, Vodafone GroupFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBraemar Shipping Services, C&C Group, IBIS Media VCTQUARTERLY RESULTSARM, BP, Wolfson MicroelectronicsTRADING STATEMENTSage, Vedanta