Tuesday preview: US retail sales, Ashtead Group in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus will be squarely on the US on Tuesday - geopolitics permitting. Readings are due out for import prices, retail sales and industrial production all covering the month of May, starting from 1230 BST.

No major economic data are due out in the UK.

At 0900 BST the prestigious ZEW institute will publish its economic confidence index for Germany in June.

Overnight, rate-setters in Japan are expected to stand pat on policy.

On the company side of things, US-focused Ashtead Group is scheduled to release its full-year figures.

At the time of its third quarter numbers in March, the equipment rental company reported a 7% drop in operating profits due to the drag from increased costs.

As regarded the outlook, Ashtead said trading had been in line with expectations and that group rental revenue growth was seen rising by 3-5%.

Roughly 80% of its business is conducted in the US.

Tuesday 17 June

FINALS

Ashtead Group, IG Design Group

INTERIMS

RWS Holdings

Q4

Ashtead Group

AGMs

Flowtech Fluidpower, Braime Group, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, MetalNRG, Warpaint London, Andrews Sykes Group, Sound Energy

GMs

Caerus Mineral Resources

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)