Week ahead: Christmas trading schedule for global markets

With UK markets open for just two and a half days next week, the calendar is very light on corporate earnings and economic data.

UK markets are closed on Monday and Tuesday for Christmas and Boxing Day. They reopen on Wednesday with a full day of trading through Thursday but will close at 1230 GMT on Friday ahead of the break for the New Year.

European markets are closed for trading on Monday and reopen on Tuesday with normal trading hours through Friday.

The US has the same story as Europe, with markets closed on Monday and full days of trading from Tuesday to Friday.

Next week’s agenda is light on events. On Monday, the only notable release is Japanese inflation as Tokyo is among the few Asian markets open for trade with Hong Kong and Singapore both closed.

On Tuesday, Asian markets - apart from Australia and Hong Kong, which are both closed until Wednesday - reopen with normal trading hours.

German retail sales data and a US confidence survey are due on Tuesday.

Wednesday sees the release of US pending home sales figures and UK mortgage approvals, followed by official weekly crude inventories data, US advance goods trade balance and US initial jobless claims on Thursday and Chicago PMI on Friday.

Monday 26 December

No results scheduled

Tuesday 27 December

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (US) (09:30)

Wednesday 28 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Phaunos Timber Fund Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Canadian General Investments Ltd.

EGMS

Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares

AGMS

Asian Citrus Holding, Mortice Ltd. (DI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mortgage Approvals (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

DFS Furniture, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust

Thursday 29 December

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo Pacific Group, BT Group, Dixons Carphone , Ensor Holdings, Fulcrum Utility Services Ltd. (DI), Halma, KCOM Group, Octopus AIM VCT, OPG Power Ventures, Polar Capital Holdings, Real Good Food , RPC Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Funding Circle SME Income Fund, Schroder Income Growth Fund, Value and Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (16:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

M3 Money Supply (EU) (09:00)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Polymetal International

EGMS

Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.

AGMS

Altona Energy, Avanti Communications Group, SimiGon Ltd. (DI), Webis Holdings

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Cambria Automobiles, Game Digital, Grainger, Inland Homes, ITE Group, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Proactis Holdings, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund

Friday 30 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Clipper Logistics , First Property Group, Helical, Kainos Group , Palace Capital

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Bank of America Corp., F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd., HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd, Premier Energy & Water Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

AGMS

BOS Global Holdings Limited (DI), K&C Reit , Red Rock Resources, Regency Mines, Secure Property Development & Investment (DI)