Friday preview: Eurozone inflation, Trinity Mirror trading update

Eurozone inflation figures will be released on Friday with analysts expecting the final reading on November to confirm an annualised 0.6% growth.

Consumer prices reached the highest point in two-and-a-half years last month, driven by strength in the service sector, according to the initial estimate released in November.

October inflation rose to 0.5 after April's fall of 0.2%.

However, inflation remains well below the European Central Bank’s 2% target, prompting the monetary authority last week to extend its asset purchase programme to next December from an earlier deadline of March, albeit at a tapered pace.

The value of the bonds bought by the ECB per month under the quantitative easing programme will fall to €60bn from April next year, from a current €80bn.

The ECB expects inflation will continue to undershoot its target for some time. It predicts just 1.3% for next year, 1.5% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019.

On the company front on Friday, the Trinity Mirror releases a pre-close update. In September, the company said it was confident in achieving profits for the year despite a tough UK advertising market. Underlying revenues in the third quarter fell 9% with print down 12% and digital up 11%.

Print advertising dropped 21% in the third quarter and circulation declined 6%, with digital display and transactional revenues up 24%.

“Our forecasts assume that there is no improvement in revenue trends in the fourth quarter over the third quarter,” said Numis.

Friday 16 December

INTERIMS
Polar Capital Technology Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Amati VCT , Babcock International Group, Braemar Shipping Services, C&C Group, Downing Three VCT F Shs, Downing Three VCT H Shs, Downing Two VCT F Shs , Downing Two VCT G Shs, Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust , Elderstreet VCT, ProVen Growth & Income VCT, ProVen VCT, Sophos Group , TalkTalk Telecom Group , Telecom Plus, ULS Technology , Walker Crips Group, Whitbread

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Alpha Real Trust Ltd., BP, Carnival, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B'

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Housing Starts (US) (13:30)
Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Softcat

AGMS
Edinburgh Dragon Trust, Physiomics, Upland Resources Limited (DI)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Berendsen

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)

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AB Dynamics, Edinburgh Dragon Trust, Finsbury Food Group, Gattaca, Origin Enterprises, Softcat, Tristel, World Careers Network