Thursday preview: U.S. data, Tesla in focus

The market spotlight on Thursday was expected to be firmly on the U.S. with multiple economic reports due out.

Included amongst those were readings on weekly jobless claims, the Philly Fed's regional factory survey and data on monthly existing home sales.

But perhaps the biggest risk event would not come until after the close of markets in London, in the form of a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, at 1700 BST.

Also scheduled for throughout the afternoon were speeches from at least six other top Fed officials.

The same would be true on the corporate side of things, with quarterly updates from Netflix and Tesla due out after the session close on Wednesday.

Thursday 19 October

Q3

PensionBee Group, Centamin (DI)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dechra Pharmaceuticals, PensionBee Group, Mondi, Rentokil Initial, London Stock Exchange Group, Network International Holdings, AJ Bell

AGMs

Pantheon International, Rank Group, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Argo Group Ltd.

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Close Brothers Group, Henderson EuroTrust, ZCCM Investments Holdings 'B' Shares, Smiths Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

IG Group Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Hansa Investment Company Limited (DI), Animalcare Group, Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust, CRH (CDI), Hansa Investment Company Limited 'A' Non Vtg (DI), Old Mutual Limited NPV (DI), Coats Group, Amati AIM Vct, Marshalls, ITV, Twentyfour Income Fund Limited Ord Red, Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, BAE Systems, Sanderson Design Group, Invesco Select Trust Glbl Eqty Inc Shs, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Next 15 Group, Invesco Select Trust UK Equity Shares, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI), Gamma Communications, Prudential

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Limited NPV

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

M Winkworth, JpMorgan China Growth & Income, JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Abrdn DIversified Income And Growth, Regional REIT Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (15:00)