Wednesday preview: Coronavirus and Rio Tinto in focus

The market spotlight will shine bright on all things related to the Chinese coronavirus due to a dearth of regularly scheduled economic reports in all the main geographies.

The only tier-one data due out on Wednesday is in the States, with a reading on US existing home sales for the month of January due out at 1500 GMT.

Rio Tinto will publish its full-year results on Wednesday.

UBS anticipates a 21% increase in underlying earnings to $10.63bn (consensus: $10.2bn), with its iron ore unit set to deliver approximately 85% of the miner's net after tax profit, alongside 5% contributions from aluminium and copper.

The final dividend meanwhile was pegged at $3.08, made up of an ordinary dividend worth $2.46 - or 70% of earnings - and a special payout of $0.62.

That too would be more than $2.78 expected by analysts.

Similarly, net debt was expected to come in at $3.9bn, undershooting analysts' estimates for $4.9bn.

Wednesday February 26

INTERIMS

Avingtrans, Revolution Bars Group, Town Centre Securities

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cohort

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Q4

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI)

FINALS

Avast, Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI), PJSC MNC Norilsk Nickel ADR, Restaurant Group, Rio Tinto, Serco Group, Taylor Wimpey, William Hill

ANNUAL REPORT

Pantheon Resources

IMSS

Albion Venture Capital Trust

AGMS

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Bankers Inv Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Ediston Property Investment Company, PCGH ZDP , Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust, SSP Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dewhurst, Tharisa (DI)