Friday preview: Global PMIs, UK consumer confidence in focus

All eyes at the end of the week will be on the release of a raft of global Purchasing Managers' Indices in the UK, US and euro area covering factory and services sector activity in the month of July.

The survey results are among the earliest soft data due out each month, provide useful readings on the economy's pulse and often move financial markets.

All of the PMIs published by S&P Global are expected to reveal a slight softening in activity.

In the case of the UK, the manufacturing PMI that will be released at 0930 BST is expected to dip from a reading of 54.3 in June to 53.5 for July.

That for services meanwhile is seen slipping from 54.3 to 53.5.

Also due out on home shores overnight is GfK's consumer confidence index for July, followed by official retail sales numbers from the Office for National Statistics at 0700 BST.

Friday 22 July

INTERIMS

Beazley, Novolipetsk Steel GDS (Reg S)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Impax Asset Management Group, New Century AIM VCT, RWS Holdings, Tavistock Investments

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

ICG Enterprise Trust, Real Estate Investors

FINALS

FRP Advisory Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Personal Assets Trust

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

SLF Realisation Fund Limited C Shs NPV, SLF Realisation Fund Limited NPV

AGMS

DP Aircraft I Limited Pref , Homeserve, JD Sports Fashion, Landore Resources Limited NPV, President Energy, Quantum Blockchain Technologies, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited , United Utilities Group, WANdisco

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Abrdn Japan Investment Trust , Airtel Africa , Amati AIM Vct , Devro, Flowtech Fluidpower, Land Securities Group, Medica Group , RS Group, Serica Energy