Week ahead: Market volumes set to drop in quiet festive trading
With traders away from their desks for the Christmas festivities, financial markets will likely see reduced volumes in the shortened trading week, with very little in the way of economic data and corporate results to move stocks either way.
Equity markets across the US, Europe and Asia will be closed on 25 December for Christmas Day, with the exception – among major markets – of Tokyo's Nikkei 225 and China's Shanghai Composite.
Most markets will only be closed for just one day and reopen for the rest of the week, but London's FTSE 100 will remain shut for the Boxing Day public holiday on 26 December, and will also close early at 1230 GMT on 29 December.
For more information, TradingHours.com has a handy market status page to see which markets are currently open.
According to Russell Investments, equity markets across the globe usually trade at just 45% to 70% of normal volumes between Christmas and New Year's Day, and tend not to return to normal volumes until two to five days into January.
Aside from Monday, economic data will be released as usual during the rest of next week, though no major stats are due out.
The only economic indicators worth keeping an eye out for will be the US housing price index on Tuesday, Japanese retail trade data on Wednesday, US pending home sales and jobless claims on Thursday, and the Chicago purchasing managers' index on Friday.
Monday December 25
No results scheduled
Tuesday December 26
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
House Price Index (US) (14:00)
Wednesday December 27
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
General Electric Co (CDI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
GMS
Bristol & West 'A', Cloudified Holdings Limited NPV (DI), Microsaic Systems
AGMS
Tremor International LTD (DI)
Thursday December 28
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BT Group, Jet2, JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, Thames Ventures Vct 1, The Global Smaller Companies Trust
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Duke Royalty Limited, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
GMS
BioPharma Credit
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
SLF Realisation Fund Limited C Shs NPV, SLF Realisation Fund Limited NPV
AGMS
ADVFN, Altona Rare Earths, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. GDR, Global Petroleum Ltd., Tertre Rouge Assets
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , BP 8% Cum 1st Prf, BP 9% 2nd Prf, Cerillion , Focusrite, Grainger, Lowland Investment Co, Netcall, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Ultimate Products
Friday December 29
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Livermore Investments Group Ltd., Strix Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited , Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Energean , HICL Infrastructure , NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Pollen Street, Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, RM Infrastructure Income, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)
GMS
Barkby Group , Lansdowne Oil & Gas
AGMS
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas NPV (DI), Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas NPV (DI), Genedrive , Goldplat, Online Blockchain, Secure Property Development & Investment (DI), SkinBioTherapeutics , SkinBioTherapeutics , Tetragon Financial Group Limited, Zambeef Products
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
DFS Furniture, Natwest Group 11% Cum Non-Red Prf Gbp1 , Natwest Group 5.5% Cum Non-Red Prf Gbp1