Friday preview: US inflation data, Berkeley Group in focus

Inflation data in the U.S. will continue to be in focus at the end of the week.

At 1330 GMT, the Department of Labor will publish its import price index for the preceding month.

It will be followed at 1500 GMT by the preliminary results for the University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey for March.

Of particular interest will be the survey responses on short and long-term inflation expectations.

Worth noting, producer price data released the day before had led some economists to push back their forecast for the first rate cut by the Fed from May to June.

On home shores, at 0930 GMT the Bank of England will release the results of its latest Inflation Attitudes Survey.

In the company space, Berkeley Group will provide investors with a trading update.

UBS analyst Cedar Ekblom estimates that the luxury homebuilder will post a roughly 9% decline in second half revenues to reach £1.35bn.

Profit before tax however was pegged to come down by 25% to £319m for EPS of 221p.

Friday 15 March

INTERIMS

Volution Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Knights Group Holdings , NCC Group, Van Elle Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Canadian General Investments Ltd., Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capacity Utilisation (US) (13:15)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)

Industrial Production (US) (13:15)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (14:00)

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

FINALS

Air Astana Joint Stock Company Gdr (Each Repr 4 Com Shs) (Reg S)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

BioPharma Credit , Life Settlement Assets

EGMS

Chrysalis Investments Limited NPV

AGMS

Chrysalis Investments Limited NPV

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Berkeley Group Holdings (The)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, JPMorgan Emerging Europe, Middle East & Africa Securities, LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, Newcastle 12 5/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000, Northern Bear, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund