Week ahead: Politicians, Fedspeak still in focus

The flow of economic data would continue to be quite heavy, with a barrage of US economic indicators including for retail sales, factory gate prices and the University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey all set to be published on Friday.

However, the main focus of investors would be two keenly-awaited speeches from US president-elect Donald Trump and another from the Prime Minister.

"It is still very unclear how and when the incoming administration's policies will have an impact on the US economy but Donald Trump has announced an important speech on Wednesday, which may tell us more.

"In the UK, we await a key speech from the Prime Minister on what the government is looking to get out of the Brexit negotiations," analysts at Danske Bank said in a research report sent to clients.

Investors were also alert for any potential policy-relevant remarks from Fed speakers over the next weekend.

Several first-tier economic indicators were also set for release in Japan, with the latest figures on international trade, the current account balance and the index of leading economic indicators all due out.

In Europe, the spotlight would be on Germany, with foreign trade and industrial production figures set for release at the start of the week, on Monday, while in the UK the main reference for markets would come in the form of industrial production, trade and construction data for the month of November.

Monday 09 January

INTERIMS
Ilika

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
3i Infrastructure, Hogg Robinson Group, Intermediate Capital Group, Telford Homes

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)
Current Account (GER) (07:00)
Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

AGMS
Craven House Capital

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halifax House Price Index (08:30)

Tuesday 10 January

INTERIMS
Games Workshop Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
D4T4 Solutions

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

Q3
Big Yellow Group

EGMS
Hellenic Telecom Industries SA ADS

AGMS
Focusrite

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gocompare.com Group, Tarsus Group

Wednesday 11 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
De La Rue, Electrocomponents, National Grid, Royal Mail, Wincanton

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Workspace Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd Pref Shs

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Q4
Pagegroup

FINALS
Shoe Zone

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Netcall

AGMS
Fenner

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Joules Group, Ted Baker

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (09:30)
Industrial Production (09:30)
Manufacturing Production (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Bellway, Netcall

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Barloworld Ltd.

Thursday 12 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alliance Pharma, Norcros

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Accrol Group Holdings, Hayward Tyler Group, QinetiQ Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
GlaxoSmithKline, Total SA, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)
Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
DotDigital Group, Henderson Alternative Strategies Trust , Scottish Inv Trust

EGMS
Public Power GDR SA (Reg S)

AGMS
Debenhams

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Associated British Foods, Barratt Developments, Hays, The Gym Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Connect Group, Countryside Properties, DotDigital Group, Dunedin Smaller Companies Inv Trust, easyHotel, Henderson Alternative Strategies Trust , Income & Growth VCT , JPMorgan Asian Investment Trust, Majedie Investments, Octopus VCT 3, Octopus VCT 4, Patisserie Holdings , Scottish Inv Trust, Unicorn AIM VCT , Urban&Civic , WH Smith

Friday 13 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Acal, Brown (N.) Group, Cropper (James), Marks & Spencer Group, Polar Capital Holdings, Severfield, Tarsus Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Schlumberger Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (15:00)
Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (US) (13:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

AGMS
Catalyst Media Group, Funding Circle SME Income Fund

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
SIG, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Associated British Foods, Carr's Group, K3 Business Technology Group, TP ICAP