Friday preview: Brexit talks, US-China trade in the spotlight

All eyes will be on a scheduled meeting between Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar with the European Union's Brexit negotiating team on Friday, as investors hope for at least a last minute deal to secure an orderly withdrawal from the bloc.

In parallel, Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, is set to do the same with the head of the EU's negotiating team, Michel Barnier.

Investors will also need to keep tabs on the second day of high-level US-China trade talks in Washington DC.

Against that backdrop, the main economic release of the session will be the University of Michigan's preliminary reading on US consumer confidence for October, at 1500 BST, alongside a fresh slate of Fed speakers, including Boston Fed chief, Eric Rosengren, and the President of the Dallas Fed, Robert Kaplan.

Friday October 11

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Arrow Global Group, Avast, Bakkavor Group , Chesnara, Computacenter, Drax Group, G4S, Grafton Group Units, Highcroft Investment, Hydrogen Group, Intertek Group, Melrose Industries, RPS Group, RSA Insurance Group, The Gym Group, Total Produce, Wentworth Resources NPV

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Schlumberger Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (GER) (08:00)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dunelm Group, Fuller Smith & Turner

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Quiz

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Fx Group , Braveheart Investment Group, PHSC, Sophos Group , Trifast