Thursday preview: SNB policy announcement, Broadcom results in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors will turn their attention to the latest policy announcement from the Swiss National Bank on Thursday, as well as fourth-quarter results from US semiconductor giant Broadcom. Danske Bank noted that Swiss November inflation came in lower than expected. Headline inflation dropped to 0.0% (cons: 0.1%, prior: 0.1%) and core inflation edged lower as well to 0.4% (cons: 0.5%, prior: 0.5%).

"The SNB is still expected to remain firmly on hold at the next meeting in December, keeping the policy rate at 0%," it said.

"SNB members have reiterated that inflation below 0% would be tolerable for a short period of time. We expect the first course of action to be FX intervention before resorting to a cut into negative territory."

On the corporate front, Michael Hewson at MCH Market Insights pointed out that Broadcom has seen solid gains this year, reporting progressively improved results quarter on quarter.

"In Q2 revenues came in at $15bn, above the $14.9bn expected. This equated to a 20% increase in sales and a 44% increase in earnings. For Q3 Broadcom also beat expectations, with revenues of $15.95bn as revenue from AI continued to deliver strong returns. In its AI segment revenue rose 63% to $5.2bn, with chips helping to deliver over 50% on the revenue front. Free cash flow also saw a sharp rise to $7bn, an increase of 47%," he said.

"For Q4, AI revenue is expected to see further acceleration to $6.2bn, with an expectation that total revenue for the quarter will come in at $17.4bn, an increase of 24% on last year, with profits set to come in at 67c a share. The sharp increase in semiconductor solutions has seen this segment now account for 57% of total revenue with VMWare and other infrastructure software accounting for 43%."

Also across the pond, third-quarter results are due from athletic apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica.

Thursday December 11

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Baltic Classifieds Group, Caffyns, Celebrus Technologies, Cranswick, Discoverie Group, DSW Capital, Fuller Smith & Turner, Halfords Group, Mercia Asset Management, NewRiver REIT, Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Speedy Hire, TR Property Inv Trust, Vertu Motors, Zigup

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Brunner Inv Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Patria Private Equity Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Current Account (GER) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

GMS

Capital Limited (DI)

FINALS

RWS Holdings, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited

AGMS

Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, DotDigital Group, Fairview International, Fidelity Special Values, R8 Capital Investments, Tristel

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Fidelity Asian Values, Springfield Properties

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Associated British Foods, Investec, NewRiver REIT