Friday preview: Consumer confidence, Computacenter in the spotlight

The market spotlight at the end of the week will continue to shine brightest on the US, where two key economic indicators are set for release and expected to show mixed readings, although the risks are clearly tilted to the downside.

A final reading on the University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for the end of April, due out at 1500 GMT, is forecast to dip only slightly from the preliminary print of 71.0 to 69.0.

Nonetheless, that would still be far lower than the 89.1 point level seen at the end of March.

Durable goods orders data for March at 1330 GMT meanwhile are expected to show a 11.1% month-on-month drop in this key measure of business investment.

At home, consultancy GfK's consumer confidence index for the UK in April is forecast to show a similar sharp drop, from -7.0 for March to -40.0 in April.

Across the Channel meanwhile, business confidence surveys are due out in Germany and Belgium.

Among the few companies due to update markets at the end of the week is IT services provider Computacenter.

UBS analysts believe client remote working may in fact have sufficed to keep business momentum up over the first quarter.

Going forwards on the other hand, "incremental costs in supporting its clients and delivering a service itself remotely, plus the risk of clients deferring projects is likely to be acknowledged."

Nevertheless, management was already cognisant of the risks linked to the Covid-19 pandemic at the time of the company's full-year numbers in mid-March.

Friday 25 April

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Science Group

AGMs

Rotork, Pearson, OJSC Novolipetsk Steel GDS (Reg S), ITV, St. Modwen Properties, Senior, O'Key Group GDR (Reg S) (WI), AssetCo

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Relx Plc

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Globaldata, Chemring Group, Glanbia, Impax Environmental Markets

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

EIH Plc

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Troy Income & Growth Trust, Henderson High Income Trust, Brooks Macdonald Group, Henderson EuroTrust, Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, Shires Income

SQN Secured Income Fund

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Standard Life Private Equity Trust

Value and Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

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