Friday preview: US data barrage, Investec in focus

The focus at the weekend - barring surprises around international trade or Brexit - will be on a barrage of economic data scheduled for release in the States.

Chief in importance among those will be monthly retail sales figures for August, alongside readings on import prices, industrial production and consumer confidence, starting from 1330 BST.

No major economic releases are due for release in the UK or in the Eurozone.

On the corporate side of tings, the impact from the depreciation in the rand and the recession in the country are likely to pervade South African broker Investec's trading statement, although Numis believes most of the real impact in fact still lies ahead.

Nevertheless, although analyst James Hamilton expected funds under management to be "good" in both the Asset and Wealth Management businesses, with both up by 3.0%, he said it was likely that FuM still took a hit from negative moves in exchange rates.

For iconic pub operator JD Wetherspoon meanwhile, consensus was expecting the company to report profits before tax of £105.9m and announce a dividend payout of 12.0p.

Numis on the other hand was forecasting profits of £99.9m.

"Our caution on the business reflects the fact that we do not expect lfl sales growth to be sustainable at >5% and expect a normalisation to c.3% in due course, some way below the margin-neutral level of sales growth," analyst Tim Barrett said.

"Furthermore the company has not been buying back stock at the current level (net debt/EBITDAR 4x) removing an historic source of EPS growth."

Friday September 14

INTERIMS

RM2 International S.A. (DI), Triple Point Social Housing Reit

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Apax Global Alpha Limited , Chemring Group, Domino's Pizza Group, IMI, Informa, LSL Property Services, Mondi, Moneysupermarket.com Group, North Midland Construction, Pearson, Quartix Holdings , Quiz, Synectics, Transgloble Energy Corporation NPV (DI)

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Zotefoams

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Carnival, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, RM Secured Direct Lending

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

FINALS

Wetherspoon (J.D.)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

London & Associated Properties, Severfield

EGMS

Metminco Ltd.

AGMS

Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ltd., Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Invesco Income Growth Trust, SVM UK Emerging Fund

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Ashtead Group, D4T4 Solutions, Gordon Dadds Group , Greene King, London & Associated Properties, Motorpoint Group, Severfield, Triad Group, Walker Crips Group