Monday
Results: BlackRock, Netflix
Indicators: Irish balance of trade (May); euro zone inflation (Jun)
Meetings: Social Justice Ireland launch of Budget Choices 2018 (Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2)
Tuesday
Results: Novartis, Kuehne + Nagel, Johnson & Johnson, Goldman Sachs Group, Harley Davidson, Imax, Lockheed Martin, Villeroy & Boch
Indicators: Euro zone economic sentiment index (Jul); UK inflation (Jun) PPI input and output (Jun), retail price index (Jun); German economic sentiment (Jul); US export and import prices (Jun), housing market index (Jul)
Wednesday
Results: Donegal Group, Wizz Air, Northern Trust, Danske Bank, American Express, Morgan Stanley, PayPal Holdings, Swatch Group, Unilever
Indicators: Euro zone construction output (May); US mortgage applications (Jul)
Meetings: Network Dublin - Women's Business Network summer social and networking event (Dtwo, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2); Dublin Chamber networking lunch with special guests from the Irish ladies rugby world cup team (Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2)
Thursday
Results: Microsoft, Trinity Biotech, Panalpina, Howden Joinery, EasyJet, Breedon Group, Givaudan
Indicators: UK retail sales (Jun); Euro zone consumer confidence flash (Jul); German PPI (Jun); US jobless claims (Jul)
Meetings: ECB interest rate decision; Premier Foods AGM (London), Suedzucker AGM (Germany), Royal Mail AGM (Middlesex); Electric Media's We Are Human marketing and advertising summit (D-Light Studios, North Strand, Dublin 1); Dublin Chamber Hong Kong Consultations event on Asia trade (Dublin Chamber, Dublin 2)
We Are Human
Companies vying for business are increasingly turning advertising budgets toward the nebulous world of digital data and algorithms.
The approach has worked in the main; look to the dominance of Google and Facebook, or the unexpected turn of Labour in the recent UK general election following a shrewdly pitched online campaign.
But consumers are oftentimes more than faceless digital targets. The ability of marketers to forget this is the point of Thursday’s We Are Human marketing and advertising summit organised by Electric Media.
“We are trying to bring it back to that moment of engagement between brand and consumer when they are on their digital device,” says managing director Megan O’Riordan who believes online marketing has become “obsessed” with data-driven technology.
“We are looking at having a debate on how that impacted on the art of marketing.”
The line-up includes Mark Adams, senior vice president at VICE Media; BBC tech journalist Kate Russell and Gary Quinn of The Irish Times Content Studio.
Rather than just algorithms and data, the summit is about gaining insights on how to approach markets and consumers – a look back to, as Ms O’Riordan says, the synergy between art and science.
“We need to remind ourselves that it’s all about that one moment where a brand is connecting with that person. It still comes down to that moment.”
Hong Kong
Irish business ties to Hong Kong are strong in the areas of financial services and technology.
The 7 million-strong territory is also seen as an ideal leaping off point for those eager to try and dip a toe into mainland China and the wider Asian market.
On Thursday, the Dublin Chamber hosts Richard Thurbin of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for one-to-one meetings on establishing operations there.
An expert in identifying suppliers, buyers and potential business partners, Mr Thurbin is just one part of the chamber’s efforts to promote business ties.
Next January, the Ireland Hong Kong Business Forum, based at the chamber, will bring its annual mission to the Asian Financial Forum while this September it hopes to run an event looking at opportunities around fintech and blockchain.
“[HONG KONG] has significant market access into China and is a five-hour flight to anywhere in Asia so it is a good place to base your business,” says Stephanie Fitzgerald-Smith, international co-ordinator at Dublin Chamber.
“There is a great synergy between Ireland and Hong Kong in [financial services] and we have expertise that we can share with each other and so that is an area we have been concentrating on.”
The appeal of Hong Kong is bolstered not only by its strategic location, but its legal system, strong IP regime, and expertise in professional and trade-related services.
Friday
Results: General Electric, Moody's
Indicators: UK public sector net borrowing (Jun)