Week ahead: US and Chinese CPI, ECB decision in focus

Investors' attention around the world will be on the latest inflation readings out of two of the largest economies in the world, the U.S. and China.

Consumer price data in the States and China will be released on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The week's other main risk event will be the European Central Bank's policy decision on Thursday and whatever it might say on the outlook for interest rates.

In other central bank news, the minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting and decisions by rate-setters in Canada and New Zealand are all scheduled for Wednesday too.

Come Friday, the Office for National Statistics will report on UK gross domestic product growth in February.

Also due out during the same session are Chinese foreign trade figures for March and the preliminary results for the University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey covering the month of March.

Monday 08 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alumasc Group, Redrow

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

FINALS

Bango, Globaltrans Investment GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Premier African Minerals Ltd

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

Tuesday 09 April

INTERIMS

Ultimate Products

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dunelm Group, Hays, Renishaw

FINALS

Alliance Pharma, Animalcare Group, Distribution Finance Capital Holdings, Hvivo, JTC, Microlise Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dunelm Group

EGMS

Ethernity Networks Ltd

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Sales Monitor (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Safestore Holdings

Wednesday 10 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Wilmington

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Assura

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

FOMC Interest Rate Minutes (US) (19:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

FINALS

Churchill China, Epwin Group, Futura Medical, IQE, M&C Saatchi, Tesco

ANNUAL REPORT

Harworth Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Primorus Investments

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

Thursday 11 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Colefax Group, Hargreaves Services, Ricardo, Trifast

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barratt Developments, Begbies Traynor Group, Blackfinch Spring VCT , Manchester & London Investment Trust, Northamber, Softcat

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

GSK

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, CT Private Equity Trust, I3 Energy , JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income, JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, Supermarket Income Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

GMS

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

ANNUAL REPORT

Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Nova Ljubljanska Banka D.D., Ljubljana GDR (Reg S)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust Red, Savills, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI)

EGMS

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

AGMS

Angus Energy , AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Athelney Trust, Driver Group, Law Debenture Corp., MTI Wireless Edge Ltd., Scottish American Inv Company

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aviva, Capital & Regional, Chesnara, F&C Investment Trust, Foxtons Group , Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Harbour Energy , Howden Joinery Group, Hunting, International Personal Finance, Investec Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference Stock 1, ITV, Johnson Service Group, Just Group, Kenmare Resources (CDI), Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Lloyds Banking Group, Luceco , Man Group, Mobius Investment Trust , Phoenix Group Holdings , Reckitt Benckiser Group, Savills, Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company , Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI), Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), Synectics, TP Icap Group , TT Electronics

Friday 12 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust, Galliford Try, Tristel

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Duke Capital Limited, Land Securities Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

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

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Lancashire Holdings Limited

AGMS

Sigmaroc

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Index of Services (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Chemring Group, IDOX, LPA Group