Week ahead: Fed and BoE in focus
Central bank policy decisions in the UK and the US are likely to garner the most attention this week, with policymakers at both the Bank of England and US Federal Reserve set to meet and decide on interest rates.
Whereas the Fed is expected to embark on another interest rate hike, the Monetary Policy Committee is likely to stay put.
Nevertheless, as important as the decision taken next week themselves, just as important will be rate-setters' outlook for policy going forward, with those in America expected to sound a more dovish than heretofor, while in the UK they will likely continue to warn of the possibility of further hikes ahead.
Also due out in the States is a reading on factory sector conditions during the month of December, courtesy of the Federal Reserve bank of Philadelphia, on Thursday.
It will be followed by figures covering durable goods orders for November, the next day, alongside a report on the latest monthly trends for personal income and spending.
Across the Channel, the IFO institute's closely-followed business confidence gauge for December, on Tuesday, may move markets.
Monday December 17
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Lazard World Trust Fund
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
FINALS
APC Technology Group
AGMS
Edinburgh Dragon Trust
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hunting
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Fidelity Asian Values, Jupiter European Opportunities Trust, Kin and Carta , YouGov
Tuesday December 18
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Investec, Mediclinic International
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Total SA
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Housing Starts (US) (13:30)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)
GMS
Applied Graphene Materials
FINALS
Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund
ANNUAL REPORT
Schroder Income Growth Fund, Standard Life Private Equity Trust
EGMS
Air China Ltd.
AGMS
CIP Merchant Capital Limited NPV, DotDigital Group, European Metals Holding Limited (DI), Sareum Holdings, Schroder Income Growth Fund, Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Petrofac Ltd.
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
London Finance & Investment Group, Volution Group (WI)
Wednesday December 19
INTERIMS
Begbies Traynor Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, Creightons
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Diversified Gas & Oil, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B'
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
General Electric Co
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Current Account (US) (13:30)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
AGMS
British Empire Trust, Frontier IP Group, JPMorgan Elect Managed Growth Shares, Proactis Holdings, Red Rock Resources
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (09:30)
Producer Price Index (09:30)
Retail Price Index (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberdeen Frontier Markets Investment Company, Sanditon Investment Trust
Thursday December 20
INTERIMS
Henderson Diversified Income Ltd.
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Cake Box Holdings, System1 Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alliance Pharma, Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Bilby, Burberry Group, Discoverie Group, FIH Group , IntegraFin Holding, International Biotech Trust, Iomart Group, Mind Gym, Mitie Group, Octopus AIM VCT, Polar Capital Holdings, Superdry, United Utilities Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Volta Finance Limited
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Standard Life Private Equity Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Current Account (EU) (09:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)
GMS
Henderson Diversified Income Ltd., Northern 2 VCT, Northern 2 VCT
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Standard Asia Focus , ECO Animal Health Group
AGMS
AFI Development, Block Energy , El Oro Ltd, Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (DI), Schroder Oriental Income Fund Ltd., Smart (J) & Co., Solgold
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
Retail Sales (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Coral Products
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Standard Asia Focus , Countryside Properties, Netcall, Topps Tiles
Friday December 21
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aquila Services Group, Avation, B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), CMC Markets, Establishment Inv Trust, Gresham House Strategic , Majestic Wine, Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Trust , Redcentric, Sainsbury (J), Walker Crips Group, Wynnstay Properties
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
BlackRock World Mining Trust, BP, Regional REIT Limited, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited, UIL Limited (DI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (09:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Keystone Inv Trust
EGMS
Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.
AGMS
Focusrite, Haydale Graphene Industries, KCR Residential Reit, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Sabien Technology Group, Transense Technologies
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (08:30)
GDP (Preliminary) (09:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Gross Domestic Product (09:30)
Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Edinburgh Dragon Trust, Finsbury Food Group, Genesis Emerging Markets Fund Ltd Ptg NPV, Gulf Investment Fund, Hotel Chocolat Group , JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Northern Venture Trust, Oleeo, Orchard Funding Group