Tuesday preview: US CPI, UK employment in focus

Tuesday will bring with it the week's key data release, the U.S. Consumer Price Index for the month of February.

Should headline CPI stay put at 3.1% year-on-year, as per the consensus, that may keep alive expectations that interest rate cuts could begin towards mid-year.

Just as important, core CPI was seen ticking lower to an annual rate of 3.7%, versus a January reading of 3.9%.

Earlier, at 0700 GMT, the Office for National Statistics will publish its January employment report.

Across the Channel, before the market open, Germany's Ministry of Finance will release a reading for consumer prices in February.

In the company space meantime, homebuilder Persimmon is scheduled to release its full-year numbers.

Morgan Stanley analyst Cedar Ekblom has penciled-in a 26% drop in second half sales to reach £1.57bn, for a near halving in underlying gross profit to £307m.

Earnings per share meanwhile is pegged to come in at 51.8p or down by 26% over the year.

Tuesday 12 March

INTERIMS

Fonix Mobile , Fonix Mobile , Fonix Mobile , Target Healthcare Reit Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Budget Statement (US) (18:00)

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Consumer Price Index (US) (12:30)

Q3

Ashtead Group

GMS

RBG Holdings

FINALS

BATM Advanced Communications Ltd., Costain Group, Domino's Pizza Group, Domino's Pizza Group, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Genuit Group, H&T Group, Persimmon, Synthomer, TI Fluid Systems, TP Icap Group

AGMS

Impax Asset Management Group, Seed Capital Solutions , Shoe Zone

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Claimant Count Rate (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (07:00)