Week ahead: Brexit, new Covid-19 strain in focus
Investors' focus over the coming week will continue to be on Brexit as talks carry over into the final weeks of 2020.
There is also likely to be keen interest around all news related to the new Covid-19 strain detected in the UK which has forced government's hand on tightening lockdowns in the London and the Southeast or the country.
Against that backdrop, first thing on Tuesday morning, the Office for National Statistics will publish public sector net borrowing data for November, alongside a final reading on third quarter gross domestic product.
Stateside, the key day for economic reports will be Wednesday, with readings due out, among other, on weekly jobless claims, durable goods orders and consumer confidence.
Across the Channel meanwhile, euro area consumer confidence data are due out on Monday.
Monday 21 December
AGMs
DotDigital Group, Parkmead Group (The)
EGMs
IWG
GMs
Westminster Group, Global Resources Investment Trust
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aquila Services Group, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI)
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
UIL Limited (DI)
Tuesday 22 December
AGMs
Alternative Liquidity Fund Limited. Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (DI), Jupiter US Smaller Companies, Revolution Bars Group, Exillon Energy, Mineral & Financial Investments Limited (DI)
GMs
Invinity Energy Systems
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
RDI Reit, Alpha Financial Markets Consulting
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Sector Net Borrowing (06:00)
Gross Domestic Product (07:00)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
Wednesday 23 December
AGMs
Fiske, Conroy Gold & Natural Resources, Karelian Diamond Resources, Avation, easyJet, Kin and Carta, Riverfort Global Opportunities
EGMs
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings
GMs
Jaywing
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alternative Credit Investments, Secured Income Fund, Walker Crips Group, Cake Box Holdings, JPMorgan Elect Managed Growth Shares, Ninety One, JPMorgan Elect Managed Income Shares
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (13:30)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Income (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (13:30)
New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
Thursday 24 December
AGMs
Amiad Water Systems Ltd, Origo Partners, Zambeef Products
GMs
88 Energy Limited (DI)
ANNUAL REPORT
Marston's
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Netcall, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Northern Venture Trust, Grainger, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Lowland Investment Co, Octagonal
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Duke Royalty Limited, ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt, Investments Ltd, Halma, Artemis Alpha Trust, IntegraFin Holding, Schroder Income Growth Fund, JPMorgan Multi-Asset Trust, International Biotech Trust, Octopus Apollo VCT, MS International, Diverse Income Trust (The)
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Keystone Inv Trust, Seneca Growth Capital Vct B
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust, Law Debenture Corp.
Friday 25 December