Thursday preview: BoE, central banks in focus

The focus on Thursday will be firmly on the Bank of England's policy decision.

Rate-setters at the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street are expected to unanimously approve an increase in the size of the Asset Purchase Facility, while keeping Bank Rate at 0.10%.

As of 12 June, the median forecast from economists was for a £100.0bn expansion in the APF to £745.0bn.

"While the Bank could announce more easing, we believe it is keen to retain some firepower for later this year and announce a package of measures in the event of a derailed recovery," said economists at Barclays.

Central banks will also be in the spotlight on the Continent, with policy decisions due out in Sweden and Switzerland.

Stateside, the direction of trading in capital markets may easily be swayed by the latest readings for initial weekly jobless claims and for the Philly Fed's monthly regional manufacturing index.

Further afield, interest rate decisions are also scheduled in Indonesia and Taiwan.

Thursday 18 June

INTERIMS

Blue Prism Group, CareTech Holding, Safestore Holdings, Safestore Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Income & Growth VCT

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Anglo Pacific Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Brunner Inv Trust, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

FINALS

National Grid

AGMS

Aurora Investment Trust, Block Energy , Bluejay Mining, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Horizon Discovery Group, Huatai Securities Co., Ltd GDR (Each Repr 10 A Shs RMB1) (Reg S) , Immupharma, Impact Healthcare Reit , Intelligent Ultrasound Group , IP Group, Jadestone Energy Inc NPV (DI), MHP SE GDR (Reg S), Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, RBG Holdings, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Shield Therapeutics, Ten Entertainment Group , Tremor International LTD (DI), Union Jack Oil, Vietnam Enterprise Investments (DI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Gamma Communications

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

3i Infrastructure, Big Yellow Group, Fidelity China Special Situations , Intermediate Capital Group, Johnson Matthey, Mckay Securities, Pets at Home Group , S&U, Tate & Lyle, Tclarke , TR Property Inv Trust