Week ahead: Public finance and retail sales figures in focus

In the aftermath of the latest Budget, the public finance figures for February due out on Tuesday will likely centre investors and the media´s attention, alongside the latest consumer price and retail sales figures which are scheduled for release for that same day and on Thursday, respectively.

On the other side of the Channel, in Euroland, all eyes will be on the German IFO institute´s monthly gauge of business confidence referencing the month of March, which is due out on Tuesday.

Not to be forgotten is the fact that Germany is both the largest economy in the single currency bloc and the most exposed to any slowdown overseas.

The ZEW institute´s economic confidence index, also due out on Tuesday, will help markets keep tabs on analysts´ current view on the outlook for Germany.

Thursday may be the key day for markets in terms of economic data, with the latest batch of euro area purchasing managers´ indices for the manufacturing sector due out.

Statetside, the key releases will be the latest figures on orders for durable goods and fourth quarter gross domestic product which are set to be published on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Monday 21 March

INTERIMS
CVS Group, Earthport, Plant Impact, Quadrise Fuels International, YouGov

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Heath (Samuel) & Sons

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Total SA

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Existing Home Sales (US) (14:00)

GMS
Johnston Press

FINALS
AFC Energy, Brady, BrainJuicer Group, Management Consulting Group, Matomy Media Group Limited (DI) , MD Medical Group Investments GDR (Reg S), Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Miton Group, Netplay TV, Pittards, Smart Metering Systems

ANNUAL REPORT
Bovis Homes Group

AGMS
Evocutis, LPA Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)

Tuesday 22 March

INTERIMS
Bellway, Haydale Graphene Industries, Infrastrata, Wolseley, Xeros Technology Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Rank Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
House Price Index (US) (13:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

FINALS
888 Holdings, Augean, e-Therapeutics, Gamma Communications, Gulf Marine Services, Hydrogen Group, IFG Group, IQE, Jimmy Choo , Johnston Press, NAHL Group, S&U, Science In Sport, Source BioScience, Synairgen, Synety Group, Toumaz Limited

ANNUAL REPORT
Synety Group

AGMS
Ediston Property Investment Company, Electronic Data Processing, Wynnstay Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thomas Cook Group, United Utilities Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (09:30)
Producer Price Index (09:30)
Retail Price Index (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Judges Scientific, New Europe Property Investments

Wednesday 23 March

INTERIMS
DFS Furniture, Tracsis

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (14:30)
New Home Sales (US) (14:00)

GMS
Telecom Egypt SAE GDS (Regs)

FINALS
Anglo Pacific Group, Burford Capital , Kingfisher, Lamprell, Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), Quixant

ANNUAL REPORT
IMI, Morgan Sindall Group, PJSC RusHydro ADR

AGMS
Amino Technologies, Blackrock Throgmorton Trust, GW Pharmaceuticals, IMI, Pinnacle Technology Group, Premier Veterinary Group , RM, Safestore Holdings, St. Modwen Properties

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BBA Mortgage Lending Figures (09:30)
CBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)
Public Sector Finances (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Lancashire Holdings Limited

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Computacenter

Thursday 24 March

INTERIMS
Renew Holdings

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Dunelm Group, Foresight 3 VCT, Redde, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Brooks Macdonald Group, Fusionex International, Galliford Try, Go-Ahead Group, Kier Group, NWF Group, Sky, Smiths Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
BP

Q4
Signet Jewelers Ltd.

GMS
Palace Capital

FINALS
Churchill China, International Public Partnerships Ltd., PJSC Magnit GDR (REG S), Signet Jewelers Ltd.

ANNUAL REPORT
International Public Partnerships Ltd., John Laing Group , Standard Chartered, STV Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Dunelm Group, Proven Planned Exit VCT

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Plus500 Ltd (DI), Prudential

AGMS
Beazley, Finansbank GDR (Reg S), Independent Inv Trust, Jarvis Securities

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Cenkos Securities, Downing Four VCT DSO, Downing Three VCT A Shares, Downing Three VCT C Shares, Downing Two VCT 'A' Shs, Downing Two VCT 'C' Shs, Henderson Opportunities Trust

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, BlackRock World Mining Trust, Bovis Homes Group, Countrywide, Fidelity European Values, Heavitree Brewery, Ladbrokes, LSL Property Services, OneSavings Bank, Plus500 Ltd (DI), Prudential, Real Estate Investors, Schroders, SEGRO, Skipton Building Society 6.875% Perm Int Br Shs, Synectics

Friday 25 March

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Murgitroyd Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd

EGMS
Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)

AGMS
United Bank Ltd GDR (Reg S)