Thursday preview: BoE and ECB in focus
All eyes on Thursday will be on the Bank of England with rate-setters expected to stay put on interest rates given the uncertainty around the impact that the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 may have on the economy.
Nevertheless, Barclays Research expects two members on the Monetary Policy Committee to vote in favour of a hike in Bank Rate and the remaining seven to vote against.
Policymakers at the European Central Bank are also scheduled to meet to decide on policy with consensus widely expecting no change in rates and that the governing council will announce plans to increase the envelope of its asset purchase programme in order to partly offset the end of its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme.
Also due out are closely-followed survey results for manufacturing and services sector activity in the UK and euro area covering the month of December.
Stateside meanwhile, a raft of key economic indicators are due out, including readings for industrial production, manufacturing activity in the US mid-Atlantic region and weekly unemployment claims figures.
Overnight, central banks in the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan will all announce interest rate decisions.
Thursday 16 December
INTERIMS
ProCook Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Braemar Shipping Services, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited Ord C Shs NPV
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alliance Pharma, Burberry Group, Clipper Logistics , Cranswick, Discoverie Group, Fuller Smith & Turner, JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, Latham (James), Manolete Partners, Mercia Asset Management, Mitie Group, MS International, Octopus AIM VCT, Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Supreme , TR Property Inv Trust, United Utilities Group, Vertu Motors
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Yew Grove Reit (CDI)
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Housing Starts (US) (13:30)
Industrial Production (US) (14:15)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (US) (13:30)
GMS
Nova Ljubljanska Banka D.D., Ljubljana GDR (Reg S)
FINALS
IntegraFin Holding
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI)
EGMS
888 Holdings, Glenveagh Properties (CDI)
AGMS
Arc Minerals Limited NPV (DI), AVI Global Trust , Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, Egdon Resources, Netcall, Sareum Holdings, Schroder Income Growth Fund, Seeing Machines Ltd. NPV (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
ITM Power
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Volution Group
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Associated British Foods, Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , Britvic, Carr's Group, MJ Hudson Group NPV, Northamber, Northern Venture Trust, Numis Corporation, Witan Investment Trust Plc