Friday preview: US inflation data, NatWest in focus

Investors' focus at the end of the week was expected to shift back to the U.S., where a raft of fresh economic data, including for inflation were anticipated.

Chief among those indicators perhaps would be the Employment Cost Index covering the second quarter.

It was well known that the Federal Reserve considered it a useful gauge of salary pressures in the economy.

Also due out were figures on personal income and spending in June, including readings for the personal consumption expenditures price deflator.

The core PCE was the Fed's preferred inflation gauge.

Against that backdrop, overnight the Bank of Japan was due to announce its latest policy decision.

Inflation readings were also due out in Japan, Germany, France and Spain.

On the company side of things, NatWest Group was due to report financials covering the lender's first half.

At the time of its first quarter results, NatWest stuck with guidance for full-year income of £14.8bn on a net interest margin of 3.2% and under the assumption of a base rate at 4%.

But rates had moved higher and there were concerns that defaults and provisions might rise as fixed rate mortgages expired and were replaced at higher rates, said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

"The base rate is now at 5% and looks set to go higher, the concern isn’t so much about income, but about economic conditions over the course of the rest of the year, along with demand for loans, pressure on margins, as well as higher costs."

Friday 28 July

INTERIMS

AstraZeneca, IMI, Intertek Group, NATWEST GROUP, Rightmove

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , British Smaller Companies VCT, Character Group, Gooch & Housego, Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 1 , Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 2, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT , Paragon Banking Group, Symphony International Holdings Ltd., Union Jack Oil

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust, Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Employment Cost Index (US) (13:30)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

Services Sentiment (EU) (10:00)

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

Q2

AstraZeneca

GMS

Intuitive Investments Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bisichi , Personal Assets Trust

AGMS

African Pioneer NPV, Axis Bank Ltd GDR (Reg S), Bezant Resources, Braveheart Investment Group, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV, DP Poland, Jangada Mines, Mercantile Ports & Logistics Limited, MetalNRG, Northern 2 VCT, Oxford Instruments, R&Q Insurance Holdings Ltd (DI), Science In Sport, Xtract Resources

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Glencore , Paragon Banking Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

3i Group, Anpario, Big Yellow Group, Bisichi , British Land Company, Edinburgh Inv Trust, Helical, Inspiration Healthcare Group , Premier Foods, Shires Income, Templeton Emerging Markets Inv Trust, The Mission Group, Vertu Motors