Thursday preview: US GDP, durable goods orders, personal consumption data

US economic data will be in focus on Thursday with the release of reports on gross domestic product, durable goods orders and personal consumption.

The final estimate of third quarter US gross domestic product is expected to be revised to an annualised 3.3% growth from the 3.2% reported in November.

The Commerce Department’s second estimate of GDP last month was lifted to 3.2% from an initial estimate of 2.9%. GDP rose 1.4% in the second quarter.

The final reading on personal consumption in the third quarter will also be released, with analysts expecting the Commerce Department to confirm a 2.8% increase.

The core personal consumption expenditures deflator for November, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, will also be high on the agenda.

A separate report from the Commerce Department on durable goods orders is expected to reveal a 4.5% decline in November. Orders for durable goods - products designed to last longer than three years, such as trucks, computers and planes - have been volatile in the past year.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department publishes its weekly jobless claims figures. US initial jobless claims are forecast to rise to 259,000 in the last week from 254,000 the previous week.

In the UK, GfK’s consumer confidence index is expected to hold at -8 in December amid worries about Brexit and a weaker pound pushing inflation higher.

Thursday 22 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Establishment Inv Trust, Liontrust Asset Management

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Acal, Alliance Pharma, Burberry Group, Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Solid State, Vertu Motors

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Honeycomb Investment Trust, Regional REIT Limited

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
General Electric Co, Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)
Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)
House Price Index (US) (14:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Artemis VCT

AGMS
Reconstruction Capital II Ltd., Uvenco UK, Uvenco UK

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Gross Domestic Product (09:30)
Index of Services (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Pan African Resources, Volta Finance Limited

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Artemis VCT, Qatar Investment Fund, Standard Life European Private Equity Trust, Tullett Prebon