Friday preview: UK retail sales, public sector borrowing in focus

Financial markets' focus at the end of the week will be on the UK with key indicators related to the consumer and public sector finances set to be published.

First out, overnight consultancy GfK will publish its consumer confidence index for August which is expected to reveal a small improvement on the back of the reduction in Covid-19 cases.

It will be followed at 0700 BST by a reading on retail sales in July, with economists saying that they will be watching to see if the trend towards a normalisation in consumption seen during the previous month continues.

In parallel, the Office for National Statistics will publish public sector net borrowing data for July.

Also overnight, but in China, rate-setters are expected to keep the one-year loan prime rate unchanged at 3.85%.

Across the Channel, the main data points to watch out for will be a reading on German producer prices for July and Belgian consumer confidence in August.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the US.

Friday 20 August

INTERIMS

Afarak Group (DI), Kingspan Group (CDI)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Independent Inv Trust, Northern Venture Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Merchants Trust, Primary Health Properties, Supermarket Income Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

GMS

Auction Technology Group , Zegona Communications

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Northern Venture Trust

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Triad Group

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