Thursday preview: Philly Fed index, Fedspeak in focus

The market spotlight will continue to be on the US on Thursday with a flurry of key economic indicators scheduled for release, alongside at least two Fed speakers.

In particular, investors are keen to see if the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's regional factory survey reveals anywhere near the degree of weakness of New York Fed's 'Empire State' survey published three days before.

Similarly, market participants will be on the lookout for an overly soft set of existing home sales data for July, as occurred with the latest housing starts figures.

For their part, economists at Barclays Research noted that it was too soon to expect to see the effect of the recent decline in mortgage rates, as the figures were based on closings and not sales agreements.

Kansas Fed President, Esther George, will speak on the economy at 1820 BST and her peer at the Minneapolis Fed, Neel Kashkari, will take part in a Q&A session from 1845 BST.

Across the Channel, Eurostat is scheduled to release its final reading on euro area consumer prices in July.

Further north, rate-setters in Oslo will meet to decide on rates.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

In Asia, central bankers in Manila are also due to announce their latest policy decision.

Thursday 18 August

INTERIMS

Helios Towers , Intelligent Ultrasound Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

4Imprint Group, Abrdn , Anglo American, Aviva, Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) , Chemring Group, Conduit Holdings Limited Com Shs (DI), DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Bermuda Regd), DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Jersey Reg), DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited (Sing.Reg), Entain, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), HSBC Holdings, Ibstock , Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Just Group, Keller Group, Legal & General Group, London Stock Exchange Group, M&G, Mincon Group (CDI), Rotala, Rotork, Sabre Insurance Group, TI Fluid Systems

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, GSK, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

FINALS

ECO Animal Health Group, Rank Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Scottish Inv Trust, UK Commercial Property Reit Limited

AGMS

Molten Ventures VCT , Oryx International Growth Fund Ltd., SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Halma, Marks Electrical Group, Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Baillie Gifford UK Growth Trust, Eneraqua Technologies, Foresight Group Holdings Limited NPV, New Century AIM VCT