Friday preview: UK GDP, consumer confidence in the spotlight

Investors' focus at the end of the week will be on a reading for UK gross domestic product covering the month of October.

The Office for National Statistics will release the figures at 0800 BST.

They will be preceded overnight by the results of consultancy GfK's consumer confidence survey for December.

Japanese industrial production numbers for October are also due out during the night, as is the Bank of Japan's fourth quarter Tankan business confidence survey.

At 1330 BST the Department of Labor will publish import price figures for November.

Friday 13 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Airtel Africa , B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), C&C Group (CDI), CML Microsystems, DCC (CDI), Inspired, Investec Non-Red Non-Cum Non-Part Prf Shs, Kainos Group , Portmeirion Group, Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust, Tatton Asset Management , Wynnstay Properties

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

GMS

Atrato Onsite Energy

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Lancashire Holdings Limited

AGMS

Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited NPV, Kromek Group, Ultimate Products

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aeci 5 1/2% Prf, Blackfinch Spring VCT , Fidelity Emerging Markets Limited Ptg NPV, Fiske, Gattaca, James Halstead, New Star Investment Trust, Schroder Japan Trust