Thursday preview: US data in focus

The focus of Thursday's session will be on a barrage of economic data due out Stateside ahead of the long holiday weekend, amid an otherwise largely barren calendar.

As such, the main report scheduled for release is MNI's regional Chicago factory sector purchasing managers' index for December at 1445 GMT.

Foreign trade data for November and initial weekly unemployment claims figures are also due to be published shortly beforehand.

Across the Channel, on the Continent, the sole trading reference for financial markets will be the European Central Bank's monthly economic bulletin.

Thursday December 28

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BT Group, Dart Group, Dixons Carphone , FIH Group , Fulcrum Utility Services Ltd. (DI), Halma, KCOM Group, Morses Club , Polar Capital Holdings, RPC Group, Xafinity

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Real Estate Investors, Schroder Income Growth Fund, Value and Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (16:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)

AGMS
Lionsgold Limited NPV, Shore Capital Group Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Cambria Automobiles, Focusrite, Grainger, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1, Inland Homes, Proactis Holdings, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund