Thursday preview: ECB decision, US producer prices in the spotlight

The market spotlight on Thursday will be squarely on the European Central Bank's policy meeting.

In particular, investors will be watching to see whether ECB boss Christine Lagarde rocks the proverbial boat when it comes to market expectations for a first rate cut in June.

Investors will also be looking for clues as to the outlook for rates across the back half of 2024.

The decision will be announced at 1215 BST, followed by Lagarde's press conference starting from 1245 BST.

Against that backdrop, overnight China's National Bureau of Statistics is due to release consumer and producer price data for March.

They will be followed by money supply growth figures for the Asian giant covering that same month.

Inflation will continue to be in focus Stateside.

Producer price data for March will be published at 1230 BST, alongside the latest weekly unemployment claims data.

Thursday 11 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Colefax Group, Hargreaves Services, Ricardo, Trifast

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barratt Developments, Begbies Traynor Group, Blackfinch Spring VCT , Manchester & London Investment Trust, Northamber, Softcat

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

GSK

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, CT Private Equity Trust, I3 Energy , JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income, JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, Supermarket Income Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

GMS

Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)

ANNUAL REPORT

Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Nova Ljubljanska Banka D.D., Ljubljana GDR (Reg S)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust Red, Savills, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI)

EGMS

Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Angus Energy , AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Athelney Trust, Driver Group, Law Debenture Corp., MTI Wireless Edge Ltd., Scottish American Inv Company

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aviva, Capital & Regional, Chesnara, F&C Investment Trust, Foxtons Group , Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Harbour Energy , Howden Joinery Group, Hunting, International Personal Finance, Investec Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference Stock 1, ITV, Johnson Service Group, Just Group, Kenmare Resources (CDI), Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Lloyds Banking Group, Luceco , Man Group, Mobius Investment Trust , Phoenix Group Holdings , Reckitt Benckiser Group, Savills, Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company , Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI), Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), Synectics, TP Icap Group , TT Electronics