Week ahead: UK claimant count, retail sales data in focus

Investors in Sterling assets will be treated to a barrage of economic data in the coming week, including some of the first data points referencing the period of time post the referendum vote, although recent moves by the BoE and speculation surrounding an upcoming boost from fiscal spending might limit any reactions.

The flow of data will include figures on retail sales, the claimant count and public sector borrowing for the month of July.

Stateside, all eyes will be on Wednesday's release of the minutes of the US central bank's most recent policy meeting, which may yield some further clues on current thinking among rate-setters in Washington DC.

In terms of US economic reports, Tuesday's consumer price index reading and US initial unemployment claims and the Philly Fed's regional manufacturing gauge, with the latter two both set for release on Thursday, hold the greatest potential to sway financial markets.

Reports on the state of Japan's economy will also come thick and fast, commencing with Monday's second quarter GDP print, followed by data on trade and machine tool orders for the month of July on Thursday and the all-industry activity index the next day.

Monday 15 August

INTERIMS
Bovis Homes Group, Clarkson, Georgia Healthcare Group, Plaza Centers NV

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Abbott Laboratories

Q2
Frutarom Industries Ltd GDR (Reg S), Georgia Healthcare Group, Plaza Centers NV

FINALS
Nakama Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Mountview Estates

Tuesday 16 August

INTERIMS
BGEO Group, Cairn Energy, H&T Group, Marshall Motor Holdings, Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)
Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)
Housing Starts (US) (13:30)
Industrial Production (US) (14:15)
ZEW Survey (EU) (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) (10:00)

Q2
Afarak Group (DI), BGEO Group, Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S)

FINALS
BHP Billiton, Orosur Mining Inc

ANNUAL REPORT
Abbey

EGMS
Ovoca Gold

AGMS
Castings, Lazard World Trust Fund, Ovoca Gold

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

Wednesday 17 August

INTERIMS
Admiral Group, Apax Global Alpha Limited , Capital Drilling Ltd. (DI), Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), New World Resources A Shares, O'Key Group GDR (Reg S) (WI)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Shoe Zone

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
FOMC Interest Rate Minutes (US) (19:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Q2
New World Resources A Shares

IMSS
Imperial Brands , Imperial Brands

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
M. P. Evans Group

AGMS
Amiad Water Systems Ltd, John Laing Environmental Assets Group Limited

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Claimant Count Rate (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Halma

Thursday 18 August

INTERIMS
Empresaria Group, Evraz, Premier Oil, UK Commercial Property Trust

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
4Imprint Group, British American Tobacco, Cineworld Group, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Fidessa Group, Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 1, Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 2, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Ibstock , Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Legal & General Group, Mondi, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Pearson, Quartix Holdings , Reckitt Benckiser Group, Schroders, SEGRO, Telit Communications, Tritax Big Box Reit

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Fair Oaks Income Fund Limited

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Blackrock North American Income Trust , Brunner Inv Trust, MedicX Fund Ltd., Raven Russia Ltd. Cum Red Pref Shares, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Current Account (EU) (09:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Leading Indicators (US) (15:00)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

FINALS
Rank Group

AGMS
Blue Planet Investment Trust

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kingfisher

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Retail Sales (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
General Industries

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Private Equity Fund Ltd. Sterling Part Shares, JPMorgan Brazil Inv Trust , Lazard World Trust Fund, Northgate, Panther Securities, Pets at Home Group , PHSC, red24, Severfield

Friday 19 August

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Blackrock Throgmorton Trust, Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Sanderson Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
M Winkworth

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

EGMS
PJSC Megafon GDR (Reg S)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alpha Real Trust Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Atkins (WS), Bacit Limited, Castings, Heath (Samuel) & Sons, Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings, Scapa Group, U And I Group