Thursday preview: UK retail sales rose 2.3% in November, analysts predict

UK retail sales are expected to rise 2.3% in November compared to a year ago, according to analysts ahead of the figures on Thursday.

Sales increased 3% year-on-year in October, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Analysts forecast the latest report to show a month-on-month gain of 0.5% in November, marking an improvement on the previous month’s 0.9% decline, boosted by Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

“This year, we think growth will not be as strong, with less intense discounting and reports of lower footfall than last year,” according to HSBC analysts.

“Of course online shopping could be strong but non-store retailing accounts for just 7% of the retail sales basket."

Other economic data on Thursday includes the release of German’s business confidence index from IFO, which is expected to remain unchanged in December at 113.4.

The US will see its weekly jobless claims data. Economists predict an increase to 274,000 in the week to 12 December from 282,000 the previous week.

Thursday 17 December

INTERIMS
Miton UK Microcap Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
E2V Technologies, Liontrust Asset Management, PayPoint

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Betfair Group, Bilby, Bonmarche Holdings, Greene King, Halfords Group, JPMorgan Euro Small Co. Trust, Mitie Group, Octopus AIM VCT, Plastics Capital, Severfield, Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Speedy Hire, United Utilities Group, Vianet Group, World Trust Fund

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Assura , Mercantile Investment Trust (The), XP Power Ltd. (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Payments (US) (13:30)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Current Account (US) (13:30)
ECB Report (EU) (09:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:30)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:30)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:30)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Leading Indicators (US) (15:00)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

GMS
Harvest Minerals Limited (DI)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
James Halstead, OMG

EGMS
Plaza Centers NV, RAB Special Situations Company Limited

AGMS
Amur Minerals Corporation NPV, British Empire Trust, Northern Venture Trust, Orchard Funding Group , Smart (J) & Co., Uranium Resources

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)
Internet Retail Sales (09:30)
Retail Sales (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
GETECH Group, MJ Gleeson

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Carr's Group, Focusrite, Gooch & Housego, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1, Marston's, OMG, Qatar Investment Fund, Standard Life European Private Equity Trust, Zoopla Property Group (WI)