Week ahead: US inflation readings, China factory PMI in focus

Investors' focus over the coming week was expected to be on the release of key inflation data in the US in the form of PCE inflation gauges for November on Friday.

The annual rate of increase for the headline price deflator for personal consumption expenditures was expected to have declined from 6.0% in October to 5.6% for November.

At the core level, PCE prices were seen falling from 5.0% to 4.6%.

Also due out on Friday was a final reading on the University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for December and on gauges of inflation expectations included within the same survey.

In parallel, data for housing starts, existing home sales and new home sales were to be released on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

In the euro area meanwhile, Monday would bring with it the IFO institute's closely followed business confidence index for Germany in December.

German producer price data for November and consumer confidence in January were to follow over the next two days.

On home shores, the spotlight would be on public sector borrowing figures for November, on Wednesday, followed by a final reading for third quarter UK gross domestic product on Thursday.

Further afield, rate-setters in Japan were scheduled to announce their monetary policy decision on Tuesday.

A reading for the official Chinese manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers' Index covering the month of December was due out on Saturday.

Monday 19 December

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Softcat

AGMS

Abingdon Health , Beeks Financial Cloud Group, China Nonferrous Gold Limited (DI), Conygar Investment Company, Renalytix (Reg S), Technology Minerals

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust, Softcat

Tuesday 20 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aquila Services Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building Permits (US) (13:30)

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Housing Starts (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

FINALS

Redx Pharma

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

abrdn Asia Focus

AGMS

Conroy Gold & Natural Resources (CDI), eEnergy Group, Karelian Diamond Resources (CDI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Volution Group

Wednesday 21 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, iEnergizer Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Current Account (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

AGMS

7Digital Group , BATM Advanced Communications Ltd., DotDigital Group, Etalon Group GDR (Reg S), Northamber

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, Finsbury Food Group, London Finance & Investment Group, Shaftesbury

Thursday 22 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

British American Inv Trust, NEWCASTLE 10 3/4% PERM INT BEARING SHS #1000, Octopus Titan VCT

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alliance Pharma, Halma, JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, PHSC, United Utilities Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust, British American Tobacco, Duke Royalty Limited, Law Debenture Corp., Mercantile Investment Trust (The)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Personal Consumption (US) (13:30)

EGMS

Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares

AGMS

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. GDR, Gulf Investment Fund, Solgold

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (06:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aeorema Communications, Britvic, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Orchard Funding Group , Smart (J) & Co., Topps Tiles

Friday 23 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

AssetCo, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV, Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., FirstGroup, Investec Non-Red Non-Cum Non-Part Prf Shs, Marks Electrical Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pollen Street

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Sentiment (US) (15:00)

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Seneca Growth Capital Vct

AGMS

Parkmead Group (The), Plexus Holdings, Wildcat Petroleum