Week Ahead: ECB meeting, China CPI in focus
The European Central Bank's Governing Council will be in focus over the coming week, with markets anticipating that the coronavirus outbreak will force its hand when it meets on Thursday.
Rate-setters in Frankfurt are expected to launch a fresh round of quantitative easing in response to what economists at Barclays termed a "major shock" to the euro area economy, from the virus itself and from the containment measures put in place in some countries.
Indeed, Barclays Research now expected the Eurozone would experience "a short but deep" recession in the first half of 2020 with full-year growth seen at just 0.3% versus their prior projection for 1.0% - with the risks "firmly skewed" to the downside.
Interest rate cuts on the other hand they deemed less likely, except in case of a "surge" in the euro's value.
Chinese consumer and producer price data for February, due out on Tuesday, are also expected to draw a lot of attention.
The median projection from analysts is for a drop in the year-on-year rate of increase in CPI in the Asian giant from 1.4% for January to 0.8% in February.
On home turf, Wednesday will bring with it a raft of economic indicators, including for industrial production, foreign trade and GDP, all covering the month of January.
US CPI figures, also on Wednesday, merit watching as well, as does Friday´s preliminary reading on March consumer confidence, courtesy of the University of Michigan.
In the background of course, investors will be monitoring the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Monday March 09
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Hargreaves Lansdown, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust
FINALS
Clarkson, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Network International Holdings, Phoenix Group Holdings
ANNUAL REPORT
Lancashire Holdings Limited
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
PayPoint
Tuesday March 10
INTERIMS
Close Brothers Group, DFS Furniture
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION COM STK USD0.20 (CDI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (EU) (10:00)
FINALS
BioPharma Credit , Forterra, French Connection Group, Gresham Technologies, H&T Group, Informa, LSL Property Services, M&G, Menzies(John), Standard Life Aberdeen, STV Group, Team17 Group, The Simplybiz Group, Ultra Electronics Holdings
EGMS
Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd
AGMS
GCM Resources, Madinet Nasr For Housing & Development S.A.E. GDR Reg S
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Retail Sales (00:01)
Wednesday March 11
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Merchants Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (US) (12:30)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (11:00)
FINALS
Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Aptitude Software Group , Balfour Beatty, Breedon Group , Dignity, FDM Group (Holdings), Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Lookers, Prudential
ANNUAL REPORT
William Hill
EGMS
Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (09:30)
Gross Domestic Product (09:30)
Index of Services (09:30)
Industrial Production (09:30)
Manufacturing Production (09:30)
Thursday March 12
INTERIMS
Brooks Macdonald Group, Galliford Try, Go-Ahead Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
TheWorks.Co.Uk
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Adept Technology Group, Beeks Financial Cloud Group, Colefax Group, Hansard Global, JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust, London Finance & Investment Group, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, Ricardo, Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust, Trifast, Triple Point Income VCT C, Triple Point Income VCT D, Triple Point Income VCT E
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Assura , Land Securities Group
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (GER) (08:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (12:30)
ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)
Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (12:30)
Producer Price Index (US) (12:30)
Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)
FINALS
Arrow Global Group, Computacenter, G4S, Helios Towers , Keller Group, Marshalls, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Savills, Secure Income Reit , Tullow Oil, Valeura Energy Inc NPV (DI)
AGMS
Benchmark Holdings , Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Anglo American, Apax Global Alpha Limited , CRH, Glanbia, GVC Holdings, Jupiter Fund Management , Law Debenture Corp., Rights & Issues Inv Trust Income Shares, RM, Spirent Communications, Stand.Ch.7te%pr, Standard Chartered 8 1/4% Non-Cum Irrd Pref
Friday March 13
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Motorpoint Group, Rank Group, SSE
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Carnival
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (14:30)
Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)
FINALS
Eurocell , Triple Point Social Housing Reit
AGMS
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Avon Rubber, JPMorgan Russian Securities