We’re well and truly into the festive season with Christmas just around the corner for the next seven days. But there is still serious work to be done.
The January 6 committee in Washington has set Wednesday as the day it plans to present its report on the 2021 attack on the US Capitol and vote on whether to prosecute those involved.
Only a fraction of the material gathered during the 18-month investigation will make it into the final eight-chapter report. The focus is expected to be on the evidence revealed about the role of former President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, as well as ways to prevent a repeat of the attacks.
Further strike action will disrupt the UK working week in the run-up to Christmas. The nurses will strike again on Tuesday. Also that day, on the eve of the first planned ambulance strike, which is expected to involve up to 10,000 workers, the national secretary of the GMB, one of the unions involved in the action, was called to give evidence to MPs in Westminster about the dispute, along with NHS and ambulance service bosses, to explain how what is behind this and why no solution found.
It’s not just the 1970s-era strike that gives Britain a stark reminder of its past. On Sunday, the nation will return to what was last heard in the 1950s. the king’s national holiday message. Charles III will have a lot to live up to when he delivers his first Christmas address on Sunday afternoon, given Queen Elizabeth’s mastery. Maybe he’s hoping this King’s performance will be as much of a smash hit as his big screen namesake almost 12 years ago.
Economic data
Economic news will trickle in over the next few days following last week’s interest rate and inflation announcements. The Bank of Japan will announce its latest monetary policy move before the US and UK release their final best estimates of last-quarter GDP movements, with recession expectations on many minds.
Companies
A trickle of results this week. After the World Cup, which saw its logo emblazoned on soccer jerseys and boots, Nike will hope to please investors with its second-quarter results on Tuesday. The world’s largest sportswear manufacturer has faced questions of balance in its cutting-edge marketing campaigns (not sure if its participation in FIFA Qatar 2022 helped with that) as it lost its second diversionary officer this summer.
Bunzl is generally considered a boring but worthy business that appears in the financial press every six months. And this could be his week. The supplier of hard hats, beard protectors and disposable cutlery is expected to confirm a strong end to its financial year when it provides a trading update on Wednesday with good revenue growth, supported by a number of acquisitions announced over the past 12 months.
Octopus Energy CEO Zoisa North-Bond. Tuesday is the deadline for the UK electricity supplier to take over collapsed rival Bulb © Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
Finally, Tuesday is the deadline for a High Court judge to allow UK electricity supplier Octopus Energy to take over its collapsed rival Bulb. Judge Zaccaroli confirmed that the transaction could be approved through the power transfer scheme. But the controversy is far from over. Rival suppliers Eon, British Gas and Scottish Power have until this date to resolve any legal challenges. Last week, Centrica warned that the deal could breach EU state aid rules. That could mean getting the European Commission involved.
Read the full week’s calendar here.
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