Friday preview: Banking sector, US consumer confidence in the spotlight

Financial markets' focus at the end of the week was likely to continue to be squarely on tensions in financial markets on either side of the Atlantic.

Among other things, analysts would likely be trying to discern what the impact of the current tensions might be for growth and inflation.

Such estimates might hold the key as to whether the US central bank would go ahead with a 25 basis point interest rate hike when policymakers next met on 21-22 March or not.

Against that backdrop, at 1000 GMT Eurostat was scheduled to release euro area consumer price data for the month of February.

It would be followed at 1315 GMT by US industrial production figures covering the month of February and a preliminary reading for consumer confidence in March at 1400 GMT.

Friday 17 March

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Abrdn China Investment Company Limited, Harmony Energy Income Trust, Knights Group Holdings , NCC Group, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Van Elle Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capacity Utilisation (US) (13:15)

Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (EU) (10:00)

Industrial Production (US) (13:15)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Final) (US) (14:00)

AGMS

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Chrysalis Investments Limited NPV

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Gulf Investment Fund