Thursday preview: UK GDP, US producer prices in the spotlight

Financial markets' focus on Thursday was expected to shift a bit back towards the UK.

At 0700 BST, the Office of National Statistics was scheduled to release a reading for gross domestic product in May.

Economists were anticipating a 0.4% contraction in the economy month-on-month with factory output expected to be especially weak.

It would be followed at 0930 BST by the Bank of England's Bank Liabilities and Credit Conditions survey.

But the US wouldn't be far from investors' minds.

Producer price data for June that were due out at 1330 BST held the potential to move asset prices.

So too, as ever, the weekly US unemployment claims figures, which were due out at 1330 BST.

And in the background many market participants were likely to be waiting on the start of the second quarter corporate earnings season which was set to start the day after.

At 1230 BST meanwhile the European Central Bank would publish the accounts of its last interest rate decision.

Thursday 13 July

INTERIMS

MusicMagpie

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Character Group, Heavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, Kitwave Group, Leeds Building Society 13 3/8% Bearing Shares, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Shoe Zone, Unicorn AIM VCT , WH Smith

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

GSK, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, British American Tobacco, Ediston Property Investment Company, JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income, JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, Supermarket Income Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Budget Statement (US) (19:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

FINALS

DSW Capital, Ilika

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Record

AGMS

Aminex (CDI), BATM Advanced Communications Ltd., BT Group, Clontarf Energy , CT Automotive Group, DCC (CDI), Dr. Martens , Helical, Renewi , RS Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Barratt Developments, Experian, Hays

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Index of Services (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Good Energy Group, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Young & Co's Brewery (Non-Voting)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anpario, Aquila Services Group, Caffyns, CMC Markets, FirstGroup, Halma, Ingenta, Marks Electrical Group, Record, Sanderson Design Group, Sirius Real Estate Ltd., The Mission Group, Triad Group, Wincanton