Thursday preview: EU summit, US jobless data in focus

All eyes will be on Brussels on Thursday as the European Union heads of state are due to meet to analyse proposed curbs on the bloc's Covid-19 vaccine exports, among other matters.

The aim of those curbs, reportedly, is above all to avoid a repeat of the delays in vaccine shipments that the bloc experienced throughout the first three months of 2021.

Against that backdrop, at least three top European Central Bank officials are scheduled to take to the podium, including its chief, Christine Lagarde.

A reading on euro area money supply growth in February is also due out, at 1000 GMT, alongside survey results for German consumer confidence.

Also on the Continent, rate-setters in Zurich are due to meet to decide on interest rates.

Stateside, the focus will be on the latest weekly jobless claims data.

On home shores meanwhile, the Confederation for British Industry is scheduled to release its Distributive Trades survey for March.

Further afield, rate-setters in Manila are due to meet to decide on monetary policy.

No change in interest rates is expected in the Philippines.

Thursday 25 March

INTERIMS

Genedrive

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Springfield Properties

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Close Brothers Group, Ferguson, TR European Growth Trust, Volution Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Tetragon Financial Group Limited

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

British American Tobacco, Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Total SE, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.NPV (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (12:30)

GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (US) (12:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (12:30)

M3 Money Supply (EU) (09:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (12:30)

GMS

AB Ignitis Grupe GDR (Reg S), Emmerson, Tavistock Investments, Tavistock Investments

FINALS

Allied Minds , BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI), Biome Technologies, Ebiquity, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI), Funding Circle Holdings , International Public Partnerships Ltd., Lamprell, Learning Technologies Group , Regional REIT Limited, Robinson, S4 Capital, Safestyle UK , Secure Trust Bank, SIG, Surgical Innovations Group, Tandem Group, Venture Life Group

ANNUAL REPORT

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

888 Holdings, Ferguson, Ferrexpo

AGMS

Banco Santander S.A., Micro Focus International, SK Telecom Co Ltd. ADS, SSP Group , Sydbank A/S Sydbank Ord Shs, TUI AG Reg Shs (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

888 Holdings, BB Healthcare Trust (Red), CLS Holdings, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd (Bermuda), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Fidelity European Values, Glanbia (CDI), Globaldata, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), IDOX, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Kingspan Group (CDI), NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P, Nichols, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Pearson, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Vistry Group , XP Power Ltd. (DI)