Week ahead: All eyes on raft of US data

The coming week will see a fair bit of economic data released despite it being a holiday-shortened one.

Tuesday, in particular, will see a raft of indicators released Stateside, including the latest readings on durable goods, consumer confidence and new home sales, among others.

The flow of data in the UK will be less intense, with the main data set to be published being those on Britain´s current account deficit, which are set for release on Tuesday. That may see the deficit widen to 25.9bn pounds for the three months to September, from the 23.1bn pounds seen in the preceding quarter.

The BBA´s latest figures on mortgage approvals will be published on the same day. Economists at Investec expect them to reveal a fifth consecutive month of declining approvals. Nevertheless, the Chancellor´s decision to reform Stamp Duty may help to jump-start the market, the broker said.

The second round of Greece´s presidential elections will take place on Tuesday as well, although it will most likely not impact on financial markets.

MONDAY 22 DECEMBER

INTERIMS
Falanx Group Ltd., Hermes Pacific Investments, MNC Strategic Investments, Sable Mining Africa Ltd. (DI)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Establishment Inv Trust, Vedanta Resources

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Royal Dutch Shell

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer confidence (EZ) (10:00)
Existing home sales (US) (15:00)

EGMS
ACTA S.P.A., Public Power GDR SA (Reg S)

AGMS
Kolar Gold Ltd., Leaf Clean Energy co (DI), Rangers International Football Club, SimiGon Ltd. (DI), Sylvania Platinum Ltd. (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
CVS Group, Lok-n Store Group, Smart (J)&Co.

TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
C&C Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Durable goods orders (US) (13:30)
GDP (US) (13:30)
House price index (US) (15:00)
New home sales (US) (13:30)
Personal consumption expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal income (US) (13:30)
Personal spending (US) (13:30)
U.of Michigan confidence (US) (14:55)

GMS
Clarkson, Dairy Crest Group,Real Estate Investors,

EGMS
Cloudtag Inc., Hellenic Telecom Industries SA ADS

AGMS
Craven House Capital, Inspirit Energy Holdings, Minco, Red Rock Resources, Regency Mines

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
JP Morgan Japanese Inv Trust
Northern Venture Trust

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Payments (09:30)
BBA Mortgage Lending figures
GDP (09:30)
Index of services (09:30)

WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER

AGM
Jubilee Platinum

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing unemployment claims (US) (13:30)
Crude oil inventories (US) (15:30)
Initial jobless claims (US) (13:30)
MBA Mortgage applications (US) (12:00)

FRIDAY 26 DECEMBER

EGMS
JSC Kazkommertsbank GDR (Reg S), JSC Uralkali GR (Reg S)