Wednesday preview: US Vice-Presidential debate, central banks in focus

Investors may opt to stay in a holding pattern on Wednesday ahead of the televised debate between the two candidates to Vice-President of the United States, incumbent Mike Pence and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Following US President Donald Trump's recent infection with Covid-19, in this election in particular the issue of who would take over at the helm of the country should either Donald Trump or Joe Biden fall ill may factor more heavily into the debate.

For some political pundits, Pence is closer to free market thinking whereas Harris is more liberal or Socialist.

Ahead of their debate, at 1900 BST the Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its most recent policy meeting, with financial markets keen for any further colour on how rate-setters view the current state of the economy.

Minutes from the European Central Bank's last policy meeting are also due out earlier in the day.

Yet while ECB chief Christine Lagarde has pointed towards a possible move towards still easier monetary policy, just the day before Fed chief Jerome Powell had hammered home the need for further fiscal stimulus in the States.

Lagarde meanwhile is slated to take to the podium again on Wednesday, this time at the Paris Europlace online International Financial Forum.

Wednesday 6 October

Interims

Tesco

Trading Announcements

OJSC Phosagro GDR (Regs), Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

AGMs

Mountfield Group, Goodwin Plc, Argo Group Ltd., Frasers Group

EGMs

Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI)

Interim Dividend Payment Date

LondonMetric Property, Base Resources Ltd

UK Economic Announcements

Halifax House Price Index (08:30)

International Economic Announcements

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)