Tuesday preview: Westminster, Brexit talks firmly in focus

With under four days left to go until the stipulated date for the UK to leave the European Union, all eyes will continue to be firmly on Westminster come Tuesday, with investors scouring the headlines for any signs of progress on avoiding a so-called 'hard Brexit'.

Key in that respect, UK Prime Minister Theresa May is scheduled to meet German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French President Emanuel Macron.

Investors will also looking for the result of peers' examination of the Copper bill, during the previous evening, which would force the PM to seek an extension of Article 50, if necessary, in order to avoid a 'no-deal' Brexit.

Barring an agreement with the Labour party, which had thus far remained elusive, it was possible that May might finally opt to table indicative votes on various Brexit options, having already committed herself to abiding by the result.

Against that backdrop, markets would also be keeping an eye out for the results of the European Central Bank's bank lending survey for the second quarter.

Stateside meanwhile, the NFIB was set to release its small business confidence gauge for the month of March, and the Department of Labor its JOLTS labor market survey results for February.

Among the firms set to update investors on Tuesday is Premier Asset Management, with David McCann at Numis anticipating that the outfit will report second quarter assets under management of £6.8bn, alongside quarterly net flows of £2.0m and performance of £357m.

"Whilst net flows have slowed in recent months, which may be partly responsible for the recent de-rating, we believe that this will be only temporary and will recover later in 2019, once UK retail investors regain some risk appetite for new investment, likely once there is less Brexit-related market paralysis."

Tuesday April 09

INTERIMS

Avacta Group, Nanoco Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Joules Group, Redrow

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.

GMS

Plexus Holdings

FINALS

Anexo Group , Destiny Pharma , Luceco , Mission Marketing Group, One Media IP Group, Property Franchise Group, Sumo Group , The City Pub Group

AGMS

Sampo OYJ