Friday preview: UK fourth quarter GDP, US consumer confidence in focus

The market spotlight at the end of the week will be on a preliminary reading for fourth quarter UK gross domestic product.

Consensus is for a slight 0.5% quarter-on-quarter increase in the pace of expansion, following the 16.0% rebound seen over the three months to September.

Nevertheless, Friday's data are also expected to lay bare the extent of the damage wrought by the pandemic across 2020, with GDP expected to be a bit more than 8% below its year earlier level.

Also due out are monthly readings for construction, industrial and services output, alongside December data on foreign trade.

Stateside the focus will be on a preliminary reading for consumer confidence in the month of February, courtesy of the University of Michigan.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the euro area or in Asia.

Friday 12 February

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Stenprop Limited

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

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

GMS

Remote Monitored Systems

EGMS

Irish Continental Group Units, Kingspan Group, Mincon Group , Permanent TSB Group Holdings

AGMS

Red Rock Resources, Victrex plc

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

GDP (Preliminary) (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Index of Services (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, Morses Club , Numis Corporation, Premier Miton Group, Scottish Inv Trust