Thursday preview: MPC and November retail sales in focus

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will shift back towards the UK, as rate-setters on the Monetary Policy Committee meet to decide on policy, against a backdrop of rising expectations for rate cuts after the Prime Minister revived the possibility of a 'hard Brexit' if no trade deal with Brussels was in place by the end of 2020.

No policy changes were anticipated at Thursday's MPC meeting, but some analysts did expect the balance of votes on the MPC to shift further in favour of a cut in Bank Rate, from a 7-2 vote in favour of no change the last time around to 6-3 this time.

"Going forward, we expect meetings to be "live" in that data releases ahead of the meetings may tilt the balance of votes in favour of a cut at any time," said analysts at Barclays Research.

Also due out was a report on monthly retail sales volumes in November at 0930 GMT, followed by the Confederation of British Industry's distributive trades index for December at 1100 GMT.

Policymakers at the Bank of England aren't the only ones due to meet, with those at the Bank of Japan, Norges Bank and Riksbank all set to make policy announcements.

Thursday 19 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Card Factory

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alliance Pharma, Avation, Burberry Group, Circle Property , Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Finncap Group , Fuller Smith & Turner, International Biotech Trust, Iomart Group, Mind Gym, Mitie Group, MS International, Octopus AIM VCT, Octopus Apollo VCT, Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI), Polar Capital Holdings, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Superdry, United Utilities Group, Vianet Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Regional REIT Limited

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Standard Life Private Equity Trust, Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Current Account (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Card Factory

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alternative Liquidity Fund Limited, LMS Capital, Octopus AIM VCT

EGMS

Air China Ltd., Etalon Group GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Egdon Resources, Fragrant Prosperity Holdings Limited, Haydale Graphene Industries, Parkmead Group (The), SkinBioTherapeutics , Smart (J) & Co., Transense Technologies

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Retail Sales (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Craneware

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Cambria Automobiles, Countryside Properties, Netcall, Topps Tiles