Week ahead: Omicron, UK and US GDP in the spotlight
All eyes over the coming holiday-shortened week will continue to be on the news-flow around the Omicron virus and on prospects for NATO-Russia talks.
Against that backdrop, readings for third quarter UK and US gross domestic product are both due out on Wednesday.
Also due out in the UK are readings for public sector net borrowing and consumer confidence on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
Readings for US durable goods orders and personal income and spending in November are also scheduled for release, on Thursday.
Further afield, on Monday, the People's Bank of China will announce its latest decision on monetary policy.
The London Stock Exchange will only open for a half day of trading on Friday, in observance of Christmas Day, while US financial markets will remain closed.
Monday 20 December
INTERIMS
Gore Street Energy Storage Fund
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aquila Services Group, CMC Markets, iEnergizer Ltd., Octopus Titan VCT
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B'
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
General Electric Co (CDI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Octopus Titan VCT , Softcat
AGMS
Aberdeen Latin American Income Fund Ltd , Cambium Global Timberland Ltd., Plexus Holdings
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Softcat
Tuesday 21 December
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (US) (13:30)
FINALS
Titon Holdings
AGMS
Go-Ahead Group, Lekoil Ltd (DI), Northamber
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gross Domestic Product (07:00)
Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, Craneware, Finsbury Food Group
Wednesday 22 December
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, Investec
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
ANNUAL REPORT
Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust
EGMS
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources (CDI), Dolphin Capital Investors Ltd
AGMS
Conroy Gold & Natural Resources (CDI), DotDigital Group, Karelian Diamond Resources (CDI), Macau Property Opportunities Fund Ltd., Parkmead Group (The), Revolution Bars Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (07:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
London Finance & Investment Group
Thursday 23 December
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Triple Point Income VCT C, Triple Point Income VCT D, Triple Point Income VCT E, Triple Point Vct 2011 A
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Halma, PHSC, Walker Crips Group
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , British American Tobacco, Law Debenture Corp., Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Standard Life Private Equity Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Income (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (13:30)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust
AGMS
Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. GDR, China Nonferrous Gold Limited (DI), Orosur Mining Inc, SkinBioTherapeutics
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
DFS Furniture
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
ADVFN, Netcall, Smart (J) & Co., Topps Tiles
Friday 24 December
INTERIMS
Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Kainos Group , Triad Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
BlackRock World Mining Trust, Honeycomb Investment Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Ltd
EGMS
SDIC Power Holdings Co.,Ltd GDR (Reg S)
AGMS
Abingdon Health , Origo Partners