Friday preview: US data, euro area CPI in focus

The focus at the end of the week will be on a raft of US activity indicators for April and early reading on euro area consumer prices for May.

Among the former will be readings on personal income and spending in April, which are expected to reveal big declines in both.

However, their impact on risk appetite may be offset by reports on factory sector activity in the Chicago area and consumer confidence.

Across the Channel meanwhile, preliminary Eurozone consumer price data for May are expected to show a decline in headline inflation to just a 0.1% year-on-year pace.

First quarter GDP readings are also due out in Belgium, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Estonia and Finland, together with retail sales and household consumption figures for April in Germany and France.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

Friday 29 May

INTERIMS

Benchmark Holdings

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Royal Bank of Scotland 11% Cum. Prf, Royal Bank of Scotland 5.5% Cum. Prf.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

City of London Inv Trust, Custodian Reit , Ediston Property Investment Company, Greencoat Renewables, Merchants Trust, Picton Property Income Ltd, SQN Secured Income Fund

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

M3 Money Supply (EU) (09:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

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

Q2

Benchmark Holdings

FINALS

Urban Logistics Reit, Volvere

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

EP Global Opportunities Trust, M&G, San Leon Energy

EGMS

Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S)

AGMS

Eve Sleep PLC, Fresnillo, Holders Technology, K3 Business Technology Group, Kcell Joint Stock Co GDR (Reg S), Old Mutual Limited NPV (DI), Phoenix Spree Deutschland Limited Shs NPV , PJSC Acron GDR (REG S), PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works GDR (Reg S), Tanfield Group, TOC Property Backed Lending Trust, Yew Grove Reit

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eve Sleep PLC

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aptitude Software Group , EP Global Opportunities Trust, Hastings Group Holdings , M&G, Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , Polymetal International, TI Fluid Systems