Tuesday preview: US ISM and Morrisons trading update in focus

Financial markets' focus on Tuesday will shift towards America's services sector even as investors continue to keep a close and careful eye on the latest developments in the Middle East.

At 1500 GMT, the Institute for Supply Management will release its US services sector Purchasing Managers' Index for December.

Previously, the People's Bank of China is scheduled to publish an update on its foreign exchange reserves for the prior month.

In the euro area meanwhile, consumer price data for December are expected to reveal that core inflation remained steady at up by 1.3% year-on-year in December.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

On the corporate side of things, the spotlight will be on Morrisons, which is due to release a trading update for the Christmas period.

Tuesday January 07

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Homeserve, TR Property Inv Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

C4X Discovery Holdings , Safestore Holdings

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alternative Liquidity Fund Limited

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Town Centre Securities