British investors await flurry of corporate, economic data

Investors on the London Stock Exchange are looking ahead next week to a flurry of corporate and macroeconomic reports that should shed a clearer light on the health of the British recovery. The benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 1.51 percent to reach 5,598.48 points at the close on Friday compared with its closing level a week earlier.
Market sentiment was again rattled by persistent uncertainty over prospects for the global economy to slip back into recession. The index rose to 5,635.72 at one point during the week before losing steam.
In the week starting Monday investors will digest financial reports from plumbing and heating supply group Wolseley, travel company Thomas Cook and finance houses Man Group and Icap.
On Tuesday the government will release its third assessment of second quarter British growth, currently estimated at 1.2 percent. Nation-wide bank will meanwhile issue its monthly report on the state of the British housing market.