Thursday preview: German IFO business confidence index in focus

Trading was expected to be light on Thursday, with market moves across asset classes likely limited by the absence of many traders from their desks due to the Thanksgiving break in the States.

Nonetheless, the IFO institute´s gauge of German business confidence for the month of November would be closely watched for indications of how firms in the euro area´s largest economy were reacting to the surprise election result in the US and the still significant political uncertainty in the single currency bloc.

Business confidence surveys were also set to be published in Belgium and France.

In the UK, the sole reference on the economic front would be the latest BBA mortgage lending figures referencing the month of October.

On the corporate front, Domino´s Pizza´s Capital Markets Day would be finance chief Rachel Osborne´s first. Numis analyst Richard Stube said he would be looking for comment on the company´s franchise model, the long-term outlook for the UK business (he believed there as upside to the firm´s target for 1,200 store openings), investment in technology and on its international operations.

Among those firms scheduled to update their investors was Severn Trent. Ahead of the company´s interims analysts at HSBC hiked their target price pointing to the attractions of the company, such as its dividend payout and the predictability of the same over the medium-term.

On the downside however, the company´s triennial pension revaluation might bring to light a need for additional contributions, the analysts said.

Thursday November 24

INTERIMS
Babcock International Group, Caledonia Investments, Charles Stanley Group, Helical, Latham (James), Mothercare, PayPoint, Pets at Home Group , Severn Trent, TR Property Inv Trust, Worldwide Healthcare Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Centrica

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
3i Infrastructure, Amec Foster Wheeler, Atkins (WS), B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Castings, DCC, Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust , Great Portland Estates, Hill & Smith Holdings, Johnson Matthey, Liontrust Asset Management, Majestic Wine, Mckay Securities, Mediclinic International , National Grid, Shanks Group, TalkTalk Telecom Group , Tate & Lyle, UK Mail Group , Vodafone Group, Wynnstay Properties, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Yu Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Blackrock North American Income Trust , Carnival, HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd, Regional REIT Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

FINALS
Euromoney Institutional Investor, Marston's, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company

EGMS
Falcon Acquisitions, Public Power GDR SA (Reg S)

AGMS
Andalas Energy And Power, CVS Group, Gemfields, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, K3 Business Technology Group, Netcall, Seeing Machines Ltd., South32 Limited (DI) , SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Euromoney Institutional Investor

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BBA Mortgage Lending Figures (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AIREA, Mulberry Group, Thorpe (F.W.), Wetherspoon (J.D.)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
AB Dynamics, CVS Group, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Northern Venture Trust, River and Mercantile Group , Smart (J) & Co., St Ives, Utilitywise plc, World Careers Network