Week ahead: Trade talks, Fedspeak in focus

The market spotlight over the coming week will be firmly on the US and China, as officials from both countries meet in Beijing to discuss trade.

Just as important as the progress achieved - or not - by trade negotiators will be a raft of Fed speakers who are scheduled to take to the podium starting from Wednesday, with central bank chairman, Jerome Powell, set to do so on Thursday.

Investors will be keen to better ascertain whether the prospect of further interest rate hikes is now well and truly off the table.

In terms of economic data releases, US and Chinese consumer price data are due out on Friday and Thursday, respectively.

Back in the UK, the main economic report, on industrial production and covering the month of November, is also due out on Friday.

Across the Channel, the minutes of the European Central Bank's last policy meeting are set for release on Thursday.

Monday January 07

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

3i Infrastructure, Big Yellow Group, Caffyns, Clipper Logistics , Homeserve

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

AGMS

URU Metals Ltd. (DI)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mattioli Woods, MJ Gleeson

Tuesday January 08

INTERIMS

Gateley (Holdings)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Yu Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

Services Confidence (EU) (10:00)

AGMS

Salvarx Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Greene King, SIG

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (08:00)

Wednesday January 09

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

3i Group, Electrocomponents, National Grid

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Current Account (GER) (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

Q4

Centamin (DI)

FINALS

Shoe Zone

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

ECO Animal Health Group

EGMS

Alpha Real Trust Ltd., PJSC Tatneft ADS

AGMS

Carr's Group, Regional Reit ZDP

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Barratt Developments, Greggs, Joules Group, Majestic Wine, Sainsbury (J), Stock Spirits Group , Ted Baker

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bellway

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barloworld Ltd.

Thursday January 10

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alliance Pharma, Caledonia Investments, D4T4 Solutions, Intermediate Capital Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Amigo Holdings, QinetiQ Group, Workspace Group, XPS Pensions Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

GlaxoSmithKline, Total SA, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, BMO Private Equity Trust, JPMorgan Asian Investment Trust, JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust, Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, Primary Health Properties

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)

GMS

Baring Emerging Europe

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BHP Group, Seneca Growth Capital Vct

AGMS

Debenhams, Unicorn AIM VCT

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

InnovaDerma

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Baring Emerging Europe, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, DotDigital Group, Greencore Group, Henderson European Focus Trust, Income & Growth VCT , Majedie Investments, On The Beach Group , Paragon Banking Group, Stride Gaming, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company, Unicorn AIM VCT , Urban&Civic , WH Smith

Friday January 11

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Brown (N.) Group, Cropper (James), Marks & Spencer Group, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Norcros, PayPoint, Pets at Home Group , Polar Capital Holdings, Randgold Resources Ltd., Severfield, Tarsus Group, Telford Homes, Triad Group, VP, Wincanton

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Civitas Social Housing , Civitas Social Housing C Shs, Schlumberger Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)

Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

PayPoint

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Grafton Group Units

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)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aeorema Communications, Associated British Foods, Carr's Group, Lok'n Store Group