Thursday preview: UK Q4 GDP, US data deluge

Investors' attention on Thursday will be on the latest economic growth data.

Before the market open in London, the Office for National Statistics is expected to announce that UK gross domestic product

shrank at a quarter-on-quarter pace of 0.1% over the three months ending in December.

Later in the day, investors will be digesting a deluge of economic data due out in the U.S..

Chief among those reports will be the retail sales figures for January and the latest weekly unemployment claims data.

Across the Channel meantime, European Central Bank boss, Christine Lagarde will deliver a speech at 0800 GMT.

Thursday 15 February

INTERIMS

MJ Gleeson

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Elixirr International

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

B.P. Marsh & Partners, Knights Group Holdings , Mattioli Woods, Mobeus Income & Growth 4 Vct, Mountview Estates, NCC Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

M Winkworth

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BP, ICG Enterprise Trust, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales Less Autos (US) (13:30)

GMS

Synergia Energy Ltd NPV

FINALS

Centrica, Relx plc

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BioPharma Credit

AGMS

JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

GDP (Preliminary) (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Index of Services (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Gulf Investment Fund, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Imperial Brands , LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, Ramsdens Holdings , Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Triple Point Venture Vct

Q1

Benchmark Holdings , Benchmark Holdings