Wednesday preview: Chinese data, Prudential, Morrison in focus
Another reading on US inflation, this time on factory gate prices, will share the market spotlight on Wednesday with a batch of first-tier indicators due out from the People's Republic of China.
Included among the latter will be reports on fixed asset investment, retail sales and industrial production referencing the month of February.
Over in the Eurozone meanwhile, the focus will be on the European Central Bank's ECB Watchers conference in Frankfurt, where both its chief Mario Draghi and its vicepresident Vitor Constancio are due to make speeches.
Their remarks may elicit a greater-than-usual market reaction given the recent rise in the single currency's value.
Meanwhile, it was to be another heavy day for corporate updates, with the latest full-year numbers from the likes of Prudential and Morrison figuring prominently.
Ahead of its results, analysts at UBS told clients they were likely to be a "little messy", given US tax reform, with some deferred tax assets written-off, so "we would look for some guidance as to earnings uplift going forward". There has been lot of recent news around a UK annuity sale and so investors will be looking for an update on this.
Wednesday March 14
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (14:00)
Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Producer Price Index (US) (12:30)
FINALS
Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Balfour Beatty, Burford Capital, Charles Taylor, Dignity, EKF Diagnostics Holdings , EMIS Group, Empresaria Group, Forterra, Futura Medical, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Marshall Motor Holdings, Marshalls, Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets, Prudential, SafeCharge International Group Limited (DI), Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), StatPro Group
INTERIMS
Brooks Macdonald Group, Northamber
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Charles Taylor
EGMS
3i Infrastructure, 3i Infrastructure
AGMS
Sydbank A/S Sydbank Ord Shs, Toople
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Shoe Zone