Thursday preview: US data, central banks in focus

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will shift back to the US, where more key economic indicators are due out.

Key among those, as ever, will be the latest weekly jobless claims data, followed by the Philly Fed's regional manufacturing index.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

Across the Channel meanwhile, the spotlight will be on Norway's central bank, where rate-setters are set to meet to decide on policy.

No change in rates is anticipated at this meeting, but heading into the meeting some economists had been anticipating multiple interest rate hikes over roughly the next 12 months.

Central bankers are also scheduled to meet in Indonesia, although here the story was rather the opposite. For Barclays Research, no interest rates cuts are likely as long as the US Federal Reserve retains its more hawkish tone.

On the corporate side of things, the latest quarterly updates from US outfits Nvidia and Robinhood, which were due out after the close of trading on Wednesday, are both likely to attract interest.

Thursday 19 August

INTERIMS

Antofagasta, Capital Limited (DI), Helios Towers , Intelligent Ultrasound Group , Tremor International LTD (DI)

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Abrdn , Anglo American, Chemring Group, CLS Holdings, Conduit Holdings Limited Com Shs (DI), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd (Bermuda), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Edge Performance VCT 'I' Shares, Glanbia (CDI), Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), HSBC Holdings, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Keller Group, London Stock Exchange Group, M&G, Marshall Motor Holdings, Mincon Group (CDI), Phoenix Group Holdings , Rotork, RSA Insurance Group Limited 7 3/8% Cum Irrd Prf #1, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), TBC Bank Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

British American Tobacco

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Contour Global , GlaxoSmithKline, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Raven Property Group Limited Cum Red Pref, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Q2

Tremor International LTD (DI)

FINALS

Byotrol, Rank Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo American, Northern 2 VCT

AGMS

Calnex Solutions , Castings

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Castings

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Accrol Group Holdings, Ashtead Group, Cohort, Dixons Carphone , Draper Esprit VCT, Kinovo , Northern 2 VCT