Friday preview: UK retail sales, Bakkavor in focus

The focus on Friday will be on UK retail sales figures covering the month of December.

Economists are expecting some pay-back after the 1.4% month-on-month surge in sales volumes seen in November, predicting a drop of 0.8% this time around.

Nevertheless, Barclays Research has penciled-in a dip of only 0.2%.

Stateside, the spotlight will be on data for industrial production and capacity utilisation covering the month of December, as well as the University of Michigan's preliminary reading on US consumer confidence in January.

At least two Fed speakers are expected to take to the podium too, they are New York Fed boss, John Williams, and his counterpart over at the Philly Fed, Patrick Harker.

In the euro area meanwhile, the sole reference for traders will be the latest Eurozone current account figures, at 0900 GMT.

Prepared foods manufacturer Bakkavor is the only corporate set to update markets at the end of the week.

Numis analyst Damian McNeela said he believed the company would guide towards group sales growth of 2.6% to £1,862m, versus a consensus projection for an increase of 2.8%.

That, McNeela said, implied an acceleration from the 1.2% delivered over the first half to about 3.4%.

A fuller update on the current trading environment, he said, was likely at the fiscal year results on 28 February.

Friday January 18

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Charles Stanley Group, Greene King, Halfords Group, IG Design Group, IntegraFin Holding, JPMorgan Euro Small Co. Trust, Octopus AIM VCT, Sirius Real Estate Ltd., United Carpets Group, Vertu Motors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Ranger Direct Lending Fund

EGMS

PAO Novatek GDR (Reg S), PJSC Centre For Cargo Container Traffic Transcontainer GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Character Group, Ironveld, Kazera Global, Management Resources Solutions

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Henry Boot

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (08:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Focusrite, Greene King, Northamber, Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust