Thursday preview: US inflation data still in the spotlight

The flow of US data will be in focus again on Thursday, including multiple readings on different inflation gauges contained in a raft of economic indicators.

Among those would be a reading on factory gate prices for the month of January, alongside the capacity utilisation measure contained in that same report.

Inflation gauges included in manufacturing sector surveys from the Philly and New York Federal Reserve banks were also scheduled for release, with both referencing the month of February.

Back in the UK, no major economic releases were expected.

Across the Channel, speeches from several European Central Bank officials including board members Yves Mersch, Peter Praet and Sabine Lautenschlager were also somewhat conspicuous on Thursday's economic calendar.

A reading on Italy's general government deficit for December might also spark some interesting commentary, given the country's significant debt pile and what with the next elections looming ever closer on the horizon.

The news-flow was also expected to pick-up some in the corporate patch, with Convatec among those set to update markets.

Ahead of the companys' full-year figures, Numis's Paul Cuddon upgraded his recommendation for the shares to 'hold', telling clients it was "awaiting robust plan to return the business to profitable growth".

"Assuming no further fall in cash conversion (75% in H1, 80% in FY16), the focus on 15-Feb should be on the outlook for FY18, where we forecast 2.4% organic growth on constant currency (c'sus c.2-3%), flat gross margins (FX headwinds) and increased opex (NSe 37% of sales). Consensus forecasts have fallen to our previously bottom of the range EPS expectations (17.7c)."

Thursday February 15

INTERIMS

Ashley (Laura) Holding, City of London Inv Trust, InnovaDerma

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Conviviality, Gateley (Holdings) , Hargreaves Lansdown, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Mattioli Woods, Mountview Estates, Murgitroyd Group, PRS Reit (The) , PZ Cussons, Rank Group, Residential Secure Income

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Anglo Pacific Group, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BP, MedicX Fund Ltd., Raven Russia Ltd. Cum Red Pref Shares, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B', Supermarket Income Reit, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited, Unilever

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)Capacity Utilization (US) (14:15)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)Industrial Production (US) (14:15)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Q4

Lancashire Holdings Limited

FINALS

Indivior, Lancashire Holdings Limited, Primary Health Properties, Relx plc

EGMS

Hellenic Telecom Industries SA ADS

AGM

SInspirit Energy Holdings, Paragon Banking Group, Petro Matad Ltd., Sanderson Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aveva Group, Trifast

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cardiff Property, easyHotel, Euromoney Institutional Investor, Income & Growth VCT , On The Beach Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Avon Rubber, Henderson Opportunities Trust