Thursday preview: UK elections in the spotlight

All eyes on Thursday would be on the UK election results with most analysts confident that Labour was set to regain power by a wide margin and after a very long absence.

Echoing other observers, both domestic and overseas, over the last few days, IG chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp judged that most investors were "looking forward" to a "large" Labour majority.

That, he said, would provide stability and remove political risk from the outlook "for the time being".

No major economic releases were scheduled in the UK and US markets would remain closed in observance of the 4 July holiday.

Across the Channel meanwhile, at 0600 BST Germany's ministry of finance would release factory orders data for the month of May.

Thursday 04 July

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Smiths News

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI), Paragon Banking Group, Premier Miton Group, S and U 31.5% Prf. Cum. Prf 12.5P, Safestore Holdings, Treatt, Union Jack Oil, Witan Investment Trust Plc

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Law Debenture Corp.

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alpha Real Trust Ltd., CT Private Equity Trust, CT UK High Income Trust, CT UK High Income Trust B , Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Primary Health Properties, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

FINALS

Trifast, Trifast

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Manchester & London Investment Trust

AGMS

3i Infrastructure, Assura , Great Portland Estates, JD Sports Fashion, Sainsbury (J), Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Bank of Georgia Group, Big Yellow Group, Bisichi , Facilities by ADF, Fuller Smith & Turner, ICG Enterprise Trust, NewRiver REIT, Next, Next 15 Group, Shires Income, Skillcast Group, Workspace Group, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Young & Co's Brewery (Non-Voting)