Friday preview: Brexit talks, UK retail sales in focus

The focus at the end of the week will continue to be on talks between Brussels and London to thrash out a deal, even as investors keep an eye on proceedings on Capitol Hill as lawmakers try to agree on another much-needed fiscal stimulus package.

Against that backdrop, at 0700 GMT the Office for National Statistics is set to publish retail sales data for November, which will shed light on the extent of the hit to the sector from the second lockdown.

Also due out are consultancy GfK's consumer confidence index for December and the Confederation for British Industry's industrial trends orders index for December.

Across the Channel investors will also be keeping close tabs on the IFO institute's closely-followed business confidence index for December, which is due to be published at 0900 GMT.

It will be followed at 1400 GMT by a comparable survey for Belgium.

Stateside meanwhile, the US Department of Commerce is due to release current account data for the third quarter at 1330 GMT, with the Conference Board institute set to follow close behind with its consumer confidence index for November at 1500 GMT.

Friday 18 December

INTERIMS

Redde Northgate

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

CMC Markets, CML Microsystems, Edge Performance VCT 'H' Shares, Electrocomponents, Finncap Group , Hammerson, iEnergizer Ltd., Kainos Group , Keller Group, Meikles Ltd., Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , Sainsbury (J), Tatton Asset Management , Vivo Energy , Wynnstay Properties

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, BP, Diversified Gas & Oil, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Current Account (US) (13:30)

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

GMS

Playtech

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

BioPharma Credit , River and Mercantile Group , Sainsbury (J)

EGMS

Air China Ltd., CPL Resources, Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.

AGMS

Conygar Investment Company, Gfinity , PetroNeft Resources, Wey Education

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (07:00)

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Orchard Funding Group , River and Mercantile Group , Tristel