Friday preview: UK retail sales, US consumer confidence in focus

Investors' focus at the end of the week will be on UK retail sales figures for April.

Consensus is that retail sales slipped by 0.4% month-on-month after a flat reading for March.

In the US meanwhile, at 12:30 BST the Department of Commerce will publish durable goods orders data for April.

And at 1400 BST, the University of Michigan will publish the results of its consumer confidence survey for May.

Across the Channel, at 0600 BST Germany will release a reading on first quarter gross domestic product.

Friday 24 May

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Nippon Active Value Fund , Tracsis

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Greencoat Renewables (CDI), JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)

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

FINALS

Volvere

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Greggs

AGMS

Fiinu, Intertek Group, Keywords Studios, Wickes Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Intertek Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

AVI Japan Opportunity Trust , Centaur Media, Clarkson, Greggs, Harworth Group, Howden Joinery Group, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.(DI), Reckitt Benckiser Group, Rightmove, Rotork, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, St James's Place, Toyota Motor Corp., TP Icap Group , Unite Group