Wednesday preview: China CPI, Direct Line Group in focus

Investors' focus in the middle of the week will shift a tad towards Asia Pacific.

Overnight, China's National Bureau of Statistics is expected to announce that the annual rate of increase

in consumer prices edged up by one tenth of a percentage point in June to reach 0.4%.

Rate-setters in New Zealand meanwhile are expected to keep official short-term interest rates at 5.5%.

Speakers from the US Federal Reserve will also continue to be in focus.

At least three top Fed officials are scheduled to take to the podium, starting with governor Michelle Bowman at 1830 BST.

Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill will also deliver remarks, at 1330 BST, followed by Catherine Mann at 1530 BST.

At 1700 BST the US Treasury will announced the results of its latest auction on 10-year government debt.

On the corporate side of things, Direct Line Group will hold its Capital Markets Day, with analysts at UBS anticipating that it would lay out plans to distribute approximately 40% of its market value over the following three years.

Analyst Will Hardcastle believed that the insurer would outline a dividend strategy targeting a payout of roughly 80% by 2026.

That amount would included a 30% special regular payout, putting Hardcastle around 25% ahead of the analyst consensus.

Hardcastle also expected the company to raise its solvency target range from 140-180% to 160-200%, leading to £275m of share buybacks over the next two years.

Wednesday 10 July

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Hollywood Bowl Group, Renew Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Assura

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

General Electric Co (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

Q2

Pagegroup

AGMS

National Grid, NetScientific

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Barratt Developments, Liontrust Asset Management

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Michelmersh Brick Holdings, National World