Thursday preview: Philly Fed index, Whitbread in focus
The market spotlight on Thursday will be on a deluge of economic data out in the States.
FTSE 100
8,040.38
16:34 24/04/24
FTSE 350
4,419.71
17:09 24/04/24
FTSE All-Share
4,374.06
16:44 24/04/24
Travel & Leisure
7,630.10
17:09 24/04/24
Whitbread
3,112.00p
16:39 24/04/24
That will include readings for import prices, weekly jobless claims, monthly retail sales for December and the Philly Fed's January manufacturing sector index, all at 1330 GMT.
In the wake of the lessened trade tensions, investors are closely watching for any signs of a recovery in US manufacturing, although the ongoing dislocations at Boeing are expected to weigh on the entire sector.
A reading on the National Association of Home Builders's Housing Market Index in January will follow at 1500 GMT and another for capital flows at 2100 GMT.
Across the Channel meanwhile, investors will be focusing on the minutes of the European Central Bank's last policy meeting.
And at home, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors will publish its house price balance for December, at midnight.
On the corporate side of things meanwhile, all eyes will be on a quarterly trading update from Whitbread, with investors keen for any evidence that the Brexit uncertainty which had hit the owner of the Premier Inn brand might be lifting, given its exposure to business confidence.
Across the Pond, quarterly earnings are due out from stockmarket darling Netflix and American Express.
Thursday 16 January
INTERIMS
TheWorks.Co.Uk
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Ashtead Group, Fletcher King, Ramsdens Holdings , SSE
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited, Scottish Inv Trust, Supermarket Income Reit
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (15:00)
Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (US) (13:30)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
EIH Plc, RDL Realisation , Scottish Inv Trust
AGMS
Cardiff Property, Mineral & Financial Investments Limited (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Whitbread
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Character Group, Compass Group, Connect Group, Dewhurst, Future, Shaftesbury, Sherborne Investors (Guernsey) 'B' Limited, Titon Holdings