London Stock Exchange investors are looking ahead to a flood of company earnings statements in the week to come as well as an inflation report from the Bank of England, a key indicator of British economic health. The FTSE 100, after a week in which share prices returned to levels last seen in June 2008 before the onset of the global finance crisis, rose 3.53 percent over the past five days to close at 5,875.35 points.
The index at one point came close to 5,900 points on Friday. In the coming week, investors will pay close attention to the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report on Wednesday. The country's Office for National Statistics reported last month that British twelve-month inflation came to 3.1 percent in September, unchanged from the August level but holding above the Bank of England's target rate of 2.0 percent.
In coprorate news, Barclays bank, fund manager Schroeders, mobile phone giant Vodafone and retailer Marks and Spencer are scheduled to report their financial results on Tuesday.
Aircraft engine maker Rolls Royce is to report on Friday. The company is under scrutiny after one of its engines on a Qantas A380 suffered a mechanical fault, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing.