Thursday preview: China CPI, UK surveys in focus

The market spotlight on Thursday will be on Chinese consumer and factory gate price data for March.

Prices are expected to have gained at both levels, with the year-on-year rate of increase in CPI seen at 0.2%, against -0.2% in the month before.

The annual rate of increase in producer prices was seen picking up from 1.7% to 3.5%.

On home shores meanwhile, a slew of May economic survey data are scheduled for release.

They include the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Permanent Staff Placements and Salaries indices and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' house price balance.

Weekly initial jobless claims figures in the US could also move financial markets.

Across the Channel meanwhile, investors will be waiting on the latest factory orders figures out of Germany, covering the month of February.

Thursday 08 April

INTERIMS

Tracsis

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Diageo, South32 Limited (DI) , Wilmington

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Begbies Traynor Group, Henderson EuroTrust, Origin Enterprises (CDI), Smith (DS), Smiths Group, Tristel, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

GlaxoSmithKline

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BMO Private Equity Trust, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Real Estate Investors, Scottish Inv Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

PMI Construction (US) (09:30)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Equals Group , M Winkworth, OSB Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI)

AGMS

Nokia OYJ, Nokia OYJ, Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust , RM

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dunelm Group, Entain, Ferrexpo

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Safestore Holdings, St. Modwen Properties

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aviva, Bristol & West 'A', Capital Limited (DI), Chesnara, CPP Group, Direct Line Insurance Group, Domino's Pizza Group, Fevertree Drinks, Fintel, Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Man Group, Maven Income and Growth VCT 5, Mondi, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Nippon Active Value Fund , Quilter, Rentokil Initial, Rotork, Savills, Shanta Gold Ltd., Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI), Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), TP Icap Group , Ultra Electronics Holdings