Friday preview: China activity data, US consumer confidence in the spotlight

Investors' attention at the end of the week will shift to Asia Pacific where a barrage of economic data are due for release in the People' Republic of China.

The country's National Bureau of Statistics is expected to report a small rise in the year-on-year rate of growth of industrial production and retail sales in August.

Fixed asset investment growth however is expected to have dipped from 5.7% for July to 5.5% during August.

A preliminary reading on US consumer confidence for September, courtesy of the University of Michigan, may also move financial markets.

Gauges of inflation expectations contained in the same survey are likely to attract more attention than usual given recent higher-than-expected readings on inflation.

Across the Channel meanwhile, investors will be digesting a final reading for euro area consumer prices in the month of August.

Consensus is that Eurostat will confirm that the cost-of-living edged up last month, with the annual rate of rising from 8.9% in July to 9.1%.

On home shores, at 0700 BST, the Office for National Statistics is expected to say that UK retail sales slipped at a month-on-month pace of 0.3%, reversing July's gain.

Friday 16 September

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

4Imprint Group, Barclays, Clarkson, IMI, LSL Property Services, NATWEST GROUP, Sherborne Investors (Guernsey) C Limited NPV, Spirent Communications, TI Fluid Systems, Vesuvius

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Vector Capital

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

NATWEST GROUP

AGMS

Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, Kibo Energy (CDI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (07:00)