Friday preview: US-Canada trade, UK house prices in focus
Updated : 16:48
Barring surprises, the market spotlight at the end of the trading week was expected to be on the multiple ongoing trade talks around the world and emerging markets.
In particular, a trade deal between the US, Canada and Mexico would likely be especially well received by markets.
Data-wise, Nationwide's House Price Index for August was scheduled for release before the opening bell, at 0700 BST, and likely to be the centre of attention.
Nevertheless, it might be eclipsed by a reading on Chinese factory sector activity overnight.
Against that backdrop, later in the session the University of Michigan was set to publish a 'final' reading on its consumer confidence gauge referencing the month of August, at 1500 BST.
Market News International's Chicago factory sector PMI was due to be published a quarter of an hour beforehand.
Corporate news was expected to be light on Friday, with only EMIS and Restaurant Group set to update their investors.
For Restaurant Group, analysts at Numis were forecasting a roughly 4.0% drop in its like-for-like sales over the past six months, alongside a decline in its operating margins from 8.0% to 6.3%, which were impacted by the World Cup and the recent heat wave and, in part, due to the price cuts that it carried out roughly one year ago.
Among the things to watch out for in its interims, analyst Tim Barrett pointed to the company's progress in exiting closed sites, its strategic push into delivery and a fresh update on cost pressures.
"The market is aware of earnings risk associated with recent warm weather but we expect comments around the volume recovery in the leisure division and FY19 outlook to be most relevant to the investment case from here."
Barrett was looking for Restaurant Group to deliver earnings per share of 7.7p and a dividend pay-out of 6.8p per share.
Friday 31 August
INTERIMS
BBGI SICAV S.A. (DI), Cathay International Holdings Ltd., EMIS Group, Restaurant Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, International Biotech Trust, Nichols, Oxford Technology 4 Venture Capital Trust, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, Porvair
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
City of London Inv Trust, Custodian Reit , Greencoat Renewables, Picton Property Income Ltd
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)
Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
GMS
Herencia Resources
FINALS
FFI Holdings
ANNUAL REPORT
FFI Holdings
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberforth Split Level Income Trust , Artemis VCT, Northern Bear
AGMS
Octopus VCT 3, Octopus VCT 4, Stagecoach Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
City of London 4.2% Cum 1st Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust 4.2% Non-Cum 2nd Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust Preference Ord Stk 14% Non-Cumulative 1, Halfords Group, Northern Bear, QinetiQ Group, Royal Mail, RPC Group, Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares
Friday 31 August
INTERIMS
BBGI SICAV S.A. (DI), Cathay International Holdings Ltd., EMIS Group, Restaurant Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, International Biotech Trust, Nichols, Oxford Technology 4 Venture Capital Trust, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, Porvair
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
City of London Inv Trust, Custodian Reit , Greencoat Renewables, Picton Property Income Ltd
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)
Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
GMS
Herencia Resources
FINALS
FFI Holdings
ANNUAL REPORT
FFI Holdings
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberforth Split Level Income Trust , Artemis VCT, Northern Bear
AGMS
Octopus VCT 3, Octopus VCT 4, Stagecoach Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
City of London 4.2% Cum 1st Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust 4.2% Non-Cum 2nd Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust Preference Ord Stk 14% Non-Cumulative 1, Halfords Group, Northern Bear, QinetiQ Group, Royal Mail, RPC Group, Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares