Friday preview: China data, US consumer confidence in focus

The market spotlight at the end of the week will shift to Asia.

Overnight, China's National Bureau of Statistics will release a fresh batch of reports covering fixed asset investment, industrial production and retail sales during the month of August.

Across the Channel meanwhile, investors will be digesting consumer price inflation figures due out in France and Italy.

Stateside, investors' attention will be on the latest numbers for import prices, in August, and the results of the University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey for September.

Of particular interest in the latter will be readings for short and long-run inflation expectations.

Also due out in the U.S. were industrial production data for that same month and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's regional factory survey data.

Friday 15 September

INTERIMS

VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

4Imprint Group, Barclays, Clarkson, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Ibstock , IMI, Informa, Lancashire Holdings Limited, LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, NATWEST GROUP, Newcastle 12 5/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Spirent Communications, TI Fluid Systems, Vesuvius

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Brunner Inv Trust, Canadian General Investments Ltd., Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI), Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

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

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

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

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust , Niox Group, Northern Bear

EGMS

Blackstone Loan Financing Limited (EUR)

AGMS

Citius Resources, Insig AI, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Trifast

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alpha Real Trust Ltd.

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baillie Gifford UK Growth Trust, Eneraqua Technologies, Halfords Group, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Northern Bear, Thames Ventures Vct 1