Tesco will be on everyone's lips Thursday as the world's third largest retailer releases a trading update.

The supermarket giant was falling 0.80% to 348.65p on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the announcement.

That, despite a hike in shares in the lead up to trading results from other major retailers including Sainsbury which boasted it would emerge as a "clear winner" in Christmas sales despite reporting slowed growth over the holidays.

However, according to Kantar Worldpanel, Tesco raised its core grocery sales ahead of Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison in the lead up to Christmas.

The market researcher said Tesco's cash sales grew 4.2% in the four weeks to December 23rd, confirming the group led the UK majors for the second period running.

The grocer saw a 6.7 % jump in food and drink sales.

Asda's sales grew 3.7 % while Sainsbury rose 3.3% and Morrison fell 0.6%.


TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment, Goals Soccer Centres, Hays, Hilton Food Group, Rathbone Brothers, SIG, Tesco

IMS
Hilton Food Group, JD Sports, XP Power

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Caledonia Investments, Creston, Mckay Securities, Morgan Crucible Co, Whitbread

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Land Securities Group, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Spanish and Italian Treasury debt auctions
ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)
Weekly initial unemployment claims (US) (13:30)
Wholesale inventories (US) (15:00)

Q4
Sandvine Corp.

GMS
Capital & Regional

FINALS
Sandvine Corp.

IMSS
Marks & Spencer Group

EGMS
Bridge Energy Asa, NetDimensions Holding Ltd. (DI)

AGMS
Baronsmead VCT, Baronsmead VCT 2, Cardiff Property

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
MPC policy decision

RD

Related share prices
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) share price
Tesco (TSCO) share price
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) share price