Thursday preview: Central Banks, coronavirus in focus

The focus on Thursday will be on central banks and the reaction in financial markets to the European Central Bank's latest moves.

It is against that backdrop that rate-setters at the Bank of Japan will meet to decide on policy, while in the background some analysts anticipate that the Federal Reserve could soon ramp up its recently restarted quantitative easing programme.

Data-wise, the market spotlight will likely be on the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's regional manufacturing sector gauge, which may make for sombre reading in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

FINALS

Next, Hurricane Energy, Portmeirion Group, Capital Drilling Ltd. (DI), Tclarke, The Gym Group, Sportech, Safestyle UK, Everyman Media Group, Sanne Group, Energean Oil & Gas

AGMs

Drum Income Plus Reit, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Tertiary Minerals, Keras Resources, Hyundai Motor Company GDR (Reg S), Impax Asset Management Group, Sunrise Resources

ANNUAL REPORT

Meggitt

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Mandarin Oriental International (Jersey), SEGRO, Nichols, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd., (Sing.Reg), Mandarin Oriental International (Singapore), Crest Nicholson Holdings, Athelney Trust, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), PCF Group, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), MTI Wireless Edge Ltd., Domino's Pizza Group, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), The Simplybiz Group, Heavitree Brewery, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd (Bermuda), Jardine Strategic Holdingd Ltd. (Bermuda), Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Hammerson, Invesco Asia Trust, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Mandarin Oriental International (Bermuda), Meggitt, HGCapital Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, CC Japan Income & Growth Trust, Treatt

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Dunelm Group, Clinigen Group, BMO Real Estate Investments Limited

NWF Group, Palace Capital, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited, Concurrent Technologies, Alliance Trust, Galliford Try

Abcam, Craneware, BMO Managed Portfolio Trust Inc Shs, Close Brothers Group, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Berkeley Group Holdings (The)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, Standard Life Private Equity Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Yew Grove Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (EU) (12:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (12:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (12:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (12:30)