Friday preview: Euro area manufacturing, US consumer confidence in focus

Investors will be focusing on euro area economic data at the end of the week, especially as regards a preliminary reading on survey compiler IHS Markit's manufacturing sector index for November.

Expectations are for a slightly less rapid pace of decline in activity levels than during the previous month.

Also due out is a reading on third quarter gross domestic product for Germany, at 0700 GMT, followed by a speech by newly-arrived European Central Bank chief, Christine Lagarde, at 0830 GMT.

Stateside meanwhile, the focus will be on a final reading on consumer confidence for the month of November, courtesy of the University of Michigan.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

Friday November 22

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aberdeen New Thai Inv Trust, Amati AIM Vct , Animalcare Group, Bovis Homes Group, Foresight Solar & Infrastructure VCT, Howden Joinery Group, Lookers, Maven Income & Growth VCT, Morgan Advanced Materials , Next Fifteen Communications, Saga , Smart Metering Systems, Ted Baker, Tesco, Walker Greenbank

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Ext Shs

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Primary Health Properties, SME Credit Realisation Fund Limited NPV, Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)

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

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Catalyst Media Group, Life Settlement Assets, Life Settlement Assets, River and Mercantile Group

AGMS

Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Eqtec, Highway Capital, Mc Mining Limited, Sylvania Platinum Ltd (DI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

CBI Distributive Trades Surveys (11:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dunelm Group, Go-Ahead Group, Jupiter UK Growth Investment Trust