Thursday preview: Quiet day for earnings and data

Thursday is likely to be a quiet day for corporate earnings in London, so most of the attention will be fixed on yet more economic data from the US as investors look ahead to the next Federal Reserve meeting with bated breath.

On tap on Thursday will be weekly jobless claims for the week to 12 August, which are expected to show 240,000 filings for unemployment benefits, down from 248,000 the week before.

UK markets will also have the chance to react to the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's latest minute, due out after the closing bell in London. Market sentiment has been dampened as of late after a barrage of mixed economic data raised concerns that the Fed may step in once again to fight inflationary pressures at its next meeting.

However, according to analyst Michael Hewson from CMC Markets UK, people shouldn't expect any bombshells from the minutes. "It’s not clear what extra illumination today’s minutes can offer investors given that they are already quite dated and various Fed policymakers have had plenty to say since that July rate hike was implemented," he said.

In company news, no blue-chip firms were due to report earnings or trading updates. However, a bunch of heavyweight stocks will be trading ex-dividend, so will likely provide some downward pressure on markets, such as Anglo American, Lloyds and Schroders.

Thursday 17 August

INTERIMS

Bank of Georgia Group, Empiric Student Property , Intelligent Ultrasound Group , Windward Ltd. NPV (DI)

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

4Imprint Group, Abrdn , Anglo American, Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) , Chemring Group, Conduit Holdings Limited Com Shs (DI), Convatec Group , DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Bermuda Regd), DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Jersey Reg), DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Sing.Reg), Entain, Hiscox Limited (DI), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Keller Group, Lancashire Holdings Limited, LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, London Stock Exchange Group, Mandarin Oriental International (Bermuda), Mandarin Oriental International (Jersey), Mandarin Oriental International (Singapore), Rotork, Sabre Insurance Group, Schroders, TI Fluid Systems

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust, GSK, ICG Enterprise Trust, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust , Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Thomaslloyd Energy Impact Trust , Thomaslloyd Energy Impact Trust , Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

FINALS

ITM Power, Rank Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust , ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Ltd, Niox Group

AGMS

Harvest Minerals Limited (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Marks Electrical Group, Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Baillie Gifford UK Growth Trust, Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Eneraqua Technologies, Investec, Iomart Group, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust