Thursday preview: ECB policy announcement, Currys update in focus
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Wednesday 09 Sep 2026
(Sharecast News) - Thursday sees the release of full-year results from Genus and trading updates from Primark owner Associated British Foods and Currys.
Also on the corporate calendar, Playtech and posh tonics maker Fevertree are due to release interim results.
As far as Currys is concerned, AJ Bell analysts Russ Mould and Danni Hewson said that following stellar full-year results in July and a solid start to the new financial year, analysts are expecting the electricals retailer to report sustained trading momentum, boosted by demand for 90-inch televisions and beer pumps.
"It is the first opportunity for new CEO Fredrik Tonnesen to put his own stamp on group strategy and communicate how he plans to spend the company's cash," they said. "Despite recently launching a new £50 million share buyback and doubling the annual dividend, Currys ended the prior year flush with funds in the bank account.
"Investors shouldn't get too excited though, given it is traditional for new bosses to 'kitchen sink' expectations to give themselves an easier bar to clear, like a high jumper at the start of a competition."
Across the pond, quarterly results are due from Adobe.
Investors will also eye the latest policy announcement from the European Central Bank, which is widely expected to raise policy rates by 25 basis points, bringing the deposit rate to 2.50%. ING said: "The ECB must decide which risk is the lesser evil: overtightening (and potentially upsetting European bonds) or underestimating inflation.
"A 25bp hike is widely expected on Thursday, and we think the Bank may strike a more cautious tone - dovish, relative to markets' aggressive pricing."
Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said: "In July, the ECB remained on hold, however this was framed as an explicit pause, which is why a rate hiking cycle is still expected.
"The driver for higher rates is the Middle East energy price shock. ECB rates are lower than elsewhere, so they have room to hike rates without too much economic disruption. The ECB also has less political pressure compared to the US.
"From the euro's perspective, President Lagarde's press conference will be watched closely for the tone of any forward guidance. If the ECB hikes rates this Thursday and Lagarde strikes a cautious tone, then future rate hike expectations could be scaled back and the euro may fall. However, if a rate hike is paired with hawkish forward guidance, then there is scope for euro upside."
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