Friday preview: PBoC, Berkeley Group Holdings in focus

The focus at the end of the week will continue to be on central banks, with rate-setters in Beijing set to meet to decide on rates.

Consensus is anticipating a cut in the one-year rate for prime loans from 4.05% to 3.95%.

On home shores meanwhile, public sector net borrowing figures for February are due out at 0930 GMT.

They are expected to reveal a swing from -£10.5bn in January to £0.5bn for February.

Across the Channel meanwhile, readings on consumer confidence in the Netherlands and Belgium for the month of March are due to be published.

In the corporate space, homebuilders will be in focus again, as Berkeley Group Holdings publishes its latest full-year numbers.

For the year ending in April, UBS analyst Gregor Kuglitsch had until recently been forecasting profits before tax of £557m and that the company would leave its medium-term guidance in place.

However, the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus should perhaps be expected to leave its mark on the firm, especially as regards the impact on foreign demand.

Net of an already announced £500m capital return, Kuglitsch was expecting financial year end net cash of £595m.

Friday 20 March

TRADING STATEMENTS

Berkeley Group Holdings

AGMs

Pantheon Resources, Oxford Biodynamics, Blackrock North American Income Trust, Shanta Gold Ltd., Spitfire Oil Ltd. (DI)

EGMs

Hadrian's Wall Secured Investments

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Driver Group, Puma VCT 12, easyJet

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, JPMorgan Elect Managed Growth Shares, Aquila European Renewables Income Fund (GBP), JPMorgan Elect Managed Income Shares, Murray Income Trust, City of London Investment Group, Empiric Student Property, Heath (Samuel) & Sons, Seneca Global Income & Growth Trust

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

British Smaller Companies VCT

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Existing Home Sales (US) (14:00)