Week ahead: Global manufacturing, Fed minutes in focus

Financial markets' focus over the coming holiday-shortened week will be on global manufacturing sector conditions and the US central bank outlook for monetary policy.

Survey compiler Caixin's China manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers' Index is expected to dip from a reading of 51.8 for November to 51.1 in December.

But analysts at Barclays Research see room for an upside surprise, with an unchanged reading of 51.8 thanks to trade and credit support for the Asian giant's factory sector.

That will be followed on Friday by the US ISM's own factory PMI which is also expected to show an improvement, from 48.1 to 49.0, although given Boeing's recent travails, investors will be wary of unexpected weakness.

Also on Friday, the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, will publish the minutes of its 11 December policy meeting, with investors expecting that they will reveal discussions about both pressures in short-term funding markets and the Fed's long-run policy goals, Barclays said.

UK and euro area manufacturing PMIs will also be release on Thursday.

Monday 30 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

House Price Index (US) (14:00)

Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

PayPoint, RDL Realisation

EGMS

Federal Grid Company Of Unified Energy System, Public Joint-Stock Company GDR (Reg S), Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S)

AGMS

Harvest Minerals Limited (DI), Iconic Labs, Maestrano Group, Secure Property Development & Investment (DI), SimiGon Ltd. (DI), Zambeef Products

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Pan African Resources, Smart (J) & Co.

Tuesday 31 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Helical, Manolete Partners

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BMO Commercial Property Trust Limited, Contour Global , HICL Infrastructure , NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Raven Property Group 6.5% Red Cnv Pref Shs NPV, Raven Property Group Limited Cum Red Pref, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (US) (00:00)

AGMS

Leaf Clean Energy Co (DI), Tetragon Financial Group Limited

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aviva 8 3/4% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Ext Shs, REA Holdings 9% Cum. Prf. #1

Wednesday 01 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Fuller Smith and Turner 6% 1st Cumulative Preference 1, Fuller Smith and Turner 8% 2nd Cumulative Preference 1

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

General Accident 'A'

Thursday 02 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bunzl, Castings, Great Portland Estates, Headlam Group, Mckay Securities, Next

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Auto Trader Group , BMO Global Smaller Companies, Brown (N.) Group, Carribbean Investment Holdings Limited (DI), Experian, Hibernia Reit , Latham (James), Northern 2 VCT, Northern 3 VCT, PHSC, Triad Group, United Carpets Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo Pacific Group, BMO UK High Income Trust , British Land Company, Real Estate Investors, Value and Income Trust

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Balfour Beatty Cum Cnv Red Prf

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

AB Dynamics, Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust , BBA Aviation 5% Cum Prf, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, BP 8% Cum 1st Prf, BP 9% 2nd Prf, Cerillion , Greencore Group, Hyve Group, Lowland Investment Co, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Up Global Sourcing Holdings

Friday 03 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

First Property Group, Gresham House Strategic , Hill & Smith Holdings, JD Sports Fashion, Liontrust Asset Management, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Severn Trent, Tate & Lyle, Ten Entertainment Group , ULS Technology

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock North American Income Trust , Land Securities Group, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

GMS

Prime People

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

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