Thursday preview: BoE and ECB in focus
All eyes will be on the Bank of England on Thursday, with recent better-than-expected readings on the gross domestic product and wages, alongside an apparently more optimistic tone around Brexit talks out of Brussels leading some observers to speculate that the next hike in Bank Rate might not wait until the end of 2019.
Nevertheless, the present fluid political situation domestically, as well as ongoing caution around the Brexit negotiations, mean that most analysts suspect rate-setters will want to keep all their options quite open.
Officials at the European Central Bank are also set to meet to decide on rates and face many of the same uncertainties as their peers at the Old Lady on Threadneedle Street, including as regards Brexit, global trade spats and the risk of spillover effects from political horse trading.
The latest CPI data in the States could also easily move markets to the extent that it deviates from economists' forecasts.
On the corporate front meanwhile, Ophir Energy and GVC Holdings are among the companies that are set to update investors.
For the former, UBS said it would be looking for an update on the carrying value for Fortuna Block R, with the Swiss broker anticipating an impairment charge of -$604.0m.
Analyst Amy Wong is also keen for an update on the fourth phase of Bualuang, believing that it will allow the company to beat its own guidance for full-year production, which she put at 12,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Similarly, more information was awaited on the Santos acquisition, which was expected to close in the third quarter and to double its output
For GVC Holdings, Numis is forecasting that the sports-betting company will publish six-month sales of £1,715.0m for operating profits of £358.0m on a 130 basis point increase in margins to 21.3%.
Despite the "very challenging" second half comparative, analyst Richard Stuber expects the firm to confirm that it is on track to reach its expectations for the fiscal year.
Indeed, Stuber reiterated the company as his 'top pick' in the gaming sector, thanks to its strong trading momentum, earnings support from cost synergies, medium-term US opportunities and its undemanding valuation.
Thursday September 13
INTERIMS
Amerisur Resources, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI), Gresham House, GVC Holdings, Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets, Oxford Biomedica, SafeCharge International Group Limited (DI), Xeros Technology Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Franchise Brands
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alpha Fx Group , Bakkavor Group , BBA Aviation, Centaur Media, Churchill China, Cineworld Group, Communisis, Computacenter, Costain Group, Dalata Hotel Group, Derwent London, Equiniti Group , Filta Group Holdings, Frenkel Topping Group, Gocompare.com Group, Highcroft Investment, Highland Gold Mining Ltd., Holders Technology, Inmarsat, Lighthouse Group, Melrose Industries, Restaurant Group, RPS Group, Tex Holdings, Total Produce, Xaar
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Assura , Fair Oaks Income Limited 2017 Shs NPV, Honeycomb Investment Trust, Regional REIT Limited, XP Power Ltd. (DI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (GER) (08:00)
Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
FINALS
Ricardo
AGMS
Amiad Water Systems Ltd, Bahamas Petroleum Co, Better Capital Pcc Ltd (2009), City of London Group, Colefax Group, Entertainment One Limited, Flybe Group, Picton Property Income Ltd, Worldwide Healthcare Trust, XPS Pensions Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BCA Marketplace, Elderstreet Draper Esprit VCT, Gateley (Holdings) , Jupiter Green Inv Trust, Oxford Instruments, South32 Limited (DI) , Trifast