Thursday preview: US Q1 GDP, Auto Trader in the spotlight

The market spotlight on Thursday will continue to be on the US, where another flurry of economic indicators and speeches from central bank officials are scheduled.

First out, at 1230 BST, will be a second reading on gross domestic product growth in the States for the three months ending in March.

Also due out are reports on weekly jobless claims and pending home sales in April, alongside side speeches from at least two top Fed officials.

In the eurozone meanwhile, at 0900 BST the European Commission will publish its economic sentiment index for May.

It will be preceded at 0700 BST by a preliminary reading on Spanish consumer prices covering that same month.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

For Auto Trader's full-year 2024 results, UBS analyst Jo Barnet-Lamb thinks investors will be most interested in any comments from management around progress on monetising its new Deal Builder service.

In a research note sent to clients however, the analyst reminded clients about his cautious stance on Deal Builder - hence his 'sell' recommendation on the shares.

Comments regarding the outlook for financial year 2025 and around current trading would be another area to watch, he said.

Thursday 30 May

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

DFS Furniture

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Associated British Foods, British Smaller Companies VCT 2, Britvic, Cerillion , Croda International 5.9% Cumulative Preference 1, Croda International 6.6% Cumulative Preference 1, Ecclesiastical Insurance 8.625% Non-Cum Irr Pref Shares, Henderson EuroTrust, Mobeus Income & Growth 2 Vct, On The Beach Group , Origin Enterprises (CDI), Rotork 9.5% Cum Prf. #1, Sage Group, SSP Group , Ultimate Products , Victrex plc

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, Canadian General Investments Ltd., Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Law Debenture Corp., Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI), Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Regional REIT Limited, Seplat Energy (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:00)

Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)

GDP (Preliminary) (US) (13:30)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

Services Sentiment (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Auto Trader Group , HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs, One Media IP Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alfa Financial Software Holdings

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Octopus AIM VCT 2

AGMS

Aferian, Air Astana Joint Stock Company Gdr (Each Repr 4 Com Shs) (Reg S), Air China Ltd., Ashtead Technology Holdings, Bodycote, Bodycote, Endeavour Mining, EnQuest, Fisher (James) & Sons, Kelso Group Holdings, Learning Technologies Group , Mast Energy Developments , National World , One Media IP Group, RM Infrastructure Income, Roebuck Food Group Public Limited Company (CDI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon, Coats Group, Dowlais Group, Macfarlane Group, Vanquis Banking Group 20

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Anexo Group , Card Factory, Centamin (DI), Centrica, Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI), Fuller Smith and Turner 6% 1st Cumulative Preference 1, Fuller Smith and Turner 8% 2nd Cumulative Preference 1, Gamma Communications, Great Portland Estates, H&T Group, Hill and Smith, Hilton Food Group, Intertek Group, James Halstead 5.5% Cumulative Preference 1, JTC, Kakuzi Ltd., Keller Group, Likewise Group, LMS Capital, Marks & Spencer Group, Octopus AIM VCT 2, Renold 6% Cum. Prfd., Severn Trent, Yu Group