Friday preview: US consumer confidence, AstraZeneca in focus

Financial markets' focus at the end of the week will shift back towards the US.

At 1500 GMT, the University of Michigan will publish the preliminary results of its consumer confidence index for the month of November.

In parallel, the US Department of Labor will release its JOLTS labour market survey for September.

Across the Channel meanwhile, European Union finance ministers are due to meet in Brussels.

And at 1100 GMT, Eurostat will publish euro area industrial production figures for the month of September.

They will be followed by a speech from European Central Bank chief economist, Philip Lane, at 1350 GMT.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

For AstraZeneca's third quarter presentation, UBS analyst Michael Leuchten expects investor focus will be on the performance of the underlying business and on the recently closed acquisition of Alexion.

Key for investors was top-line momentum, including its main drivers, sales of Tagrisso, Lynparza and Imfinzi.

The analyst was also anticipating that investors would have questions around the company's business in China due to the headwinds in a number of franchises.

Revenues were pegged to come in at approximately £9.58bn, versus consensus on about £9.66bn.

Core earnings before interest and taxes meanwhile were seen at £2.52bn for core EPS of 1.2p (consensus: 1.33p).

Friday 12 November

INTERIMS

Castings, Intosol Holdings

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Air Partner, Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust , Curtis Banks Group, Hays, Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Kingfisher, Octopus AIM VCT 2, Spectris, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Taylor Wimpey

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Seplat Energy (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

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

Q3

AstraZeneca, CableVision Holdings S.A. GDS, Hellenic Telecom Industries SA ADS, Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S), Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bioventix, Hays, Octopus AIM VCT 2

AGMS

DFS Furniture, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd., Galliford Try, Redrow

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, NCC Group, Wilmington