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Thursday's agenda: Compass Group's North American division to move the dial

Last updated: 04:41 05 Feb 2015 AEDT, First published: 05:41 05 Feb 2015 AEDT

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Contract caterer Compass (LON:CPG) is expected by Deutsche Bank to deliver first quarter numbers “at least in line with market expectations”.

The German bank says there is a chance that the North American division, which accounts for half of group revenue, could nudge the dial a bit higher than expected, thanks to above average customer retention and strong new business wins.

The bank forecasts first quarter organic growth of 4.3% year-on-year, even taking into account a fall in Fast Growing & Emerging organic growth due to the slowdown in remote sites.

A recovering Europe and continuing strong growth in North America should have driven the business forward, Deutsche believes.

Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) issues full-year results and UBS is hoping it may give more detail on the ARCTIC phase III study that will evaluate the MEDI-4736 + tremelimumab lung cancer treatment combination.

The third quarter sales update from mobile phone networks operator Vodafone (LON:VOD) should see a further modest improvement in organic mobile service revenue trends, according to German bank Berenberg.

At the group level, Berenberg expects organic (excluding currency effects and mergers & acquisition transactions) mobile service revenues to show a decline of 0.6% year-on-year (yoy), which would be an improvement on the previous quarter’s 1.5% yoy decline.

The bank will be looking for insights on the following issues and questions: incremental signs of mobile data monetisation; a return to growth; UK consolidation; the asset portfolio – what, if anything, is on the trading block; Project Spring update; and the spectrum outlook.

Significant announcements expected

Finals: AstraZeneca (LON:AZN), Beazley (LON:BEZ), Fusionex International (LON:FXI), Smith & Nephew (LON:SN.)

Interims: Avanti Communications Group (LON:AVN), McBride (LON:MCB)

Trading statement: Compass Group (LON:CPG), Dairy Crest (LON:DCG), easyJet (LON:EZJ), Enterprise Inns (LON:ETI), Future (LON:FUTR), Grainger (LON:GRI), SuperGroup (LON:SGP), Vodafone Group (LON:VOD), Wincanton (LON:WIN)

The following widely-traded stocks are ex-dividend: Stagecoach Group and Unilever.

Economic announcements expected: Monetary Policy Committee meeting and announcement – Bank of England

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