What's in store today...

The housing market falls under the spotlight today with a trading update from Taylor Wimpey (TW.).

In its last statement in November, it said trading since the summer had been stable, despite the ongoing political and economic uncertainty.

Chris Millington, analyst at Numis, commented: "We expect Taylor Wimpey to report that results for the full year are likely to be towards the top end of analysts' forecasts driven mainly through improved margins. We will be looking for news on the disposal of the group's US housing business and the size of the currently unrecognised deferred tax assets the group proposes to recognise."

Millington added that will a new finance facility now secured and the potential to reduce debt through the US disposal, the FTSE 250-listed group is looking "increasingly attractive".

Today also welcomes Burberry (BRBY) into the mix, whose share price has been riding high of late thanks to ongoing rumours of a potential takeover.

The quintessential British brand will be able to give an idea of how the luxury goods market fared during the pre-Christmas bad weather spell after so many high street stores took a hit.

Seymour Pierce recently tagged the stock with a 'buy' recommendation, stating that it had transformed its image to a "must-have" brand and said it is likely to outgrow its market rivals.

Making a splash on the commodities front is African Barrick Gold (ABG) with its fourth-quarter results.

In October, the group admitted that actions taken to address the onsite fuel theft it uncovered during the third quarter resulted in group production for 2010 to be comparable to that of 2009.

However, it described the lower production levels as temporary and said its portfolio of growth projects left it confident in meeting its future output targets.

"We expect fourth-quarter results to be slightly up quarter-on-quarter at 185,000 ounces of gold. We expect the company to meet its downwardly revised full year guidance.

"For the full-year financials we are looking for an EPS of $0.49 and we forecast a continued strong balance sheet with $435 million and no debt," analyst Cailey Barker at Numis said.

Meanwhile, the economic calendar rustles up consumer prices for December.

Following the Bank of England’s decision to leave interest rates on hold, last month’s figures are not likely to do much to silence the protests from some that the Monetary Policy Committee is turning a bline eye to its inflation-targeting remit, according to economists.

"A further rise in petrol price, combined with announced increases in gas and electricity prices, suggests that energy prices could add another 0.2% or so, food's contribution could also rise. We have therefore pencilled in a rise in headline inflation from 3.3% to 3.5% in December, with a risk of a higher figure," economists at Capital Economics said.

Results

(Finals) Arden Partners, Chemring Group, Safestore Holdings

(Interims) Experian, IG Group Holdings

Trading update

Burberry Group, Carphone Warehouse Group, Record, SABMiller, Taylor Wimpey

AGMs

ATH Resouces, Baring Emerging Europe, European Investment Trust, SVM Global Fund

EGMs

Dolphin Capital Investors, XCounter