Friday preview: Consumer confidence, Computacenter in the spotlight
The market spotlight at the end of the week will continue to shine brightest on the US, where two key economic indicators are set for release and expected to show mixed readings, although the risks are clearly tilted to the downside.
Computacenter
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15:45 22/11/24
FTSE 250
20,584.46
15:45 22/11/24
FTSE 350
4,551.10
15:45 22/11/24
FTSE All-Share
4,506.61
15:45 22/11/24
Software & Computer Services
2,695.69
15:45 22/11/24
A final reading on the University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for the end of April, due out at 1500 GMT, is forecast to dip only slightly from the preliminary print of 71.0 to 69.0.
Nonetheless, that would still be far lower than the 89.1 point level seen at the end of March.
Durable goods orders data for March at 1330 GMT meanwhile are expected to show a 11.1% month-on-month drop in this key measure of business investment.
At home, consultancy GfK's consumer confidence index for the UK in April is forecast to show a similar sharp drop, from -7.0 for March to -40.0 in April.
Across the Channel meanwhile, business confidence surveys are due out in Germany and Belgium.
Among the few companies due to update markets at the end of the week is IT services provider Computacenter.
UBS analysts believe client remote working may in fact have sufficed to keep business momentum up over the first quarter.
Going forwards on the other hand, "incremental costs in supporting its clients and delivering a service itself remotely, plus the risk of clients deferring projects is likely to be acknowledged."
Nevertheless, management was already cognisant of the risks linked to the Covid-19 pandemic at the time of the company's full-year numbers in mid-March.
Friday 25 April
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Science Group
AGMs
Rotork, Pearson, OJSC Novolipetsk Steel GDS (Reg S), ITV, St. Modwen Properties, Senior, O'Key Group GDR (Reg S) (WI), AssetCo
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Relx Plc
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Globaldata, Chemring Group, Glanbia, Impax Environmental Markets
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
EIH Plc
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Troy Income & Growth Trust, Henderson High Income Trust, Brooks Macdonald Group, Henderson EuroTrust, Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, Shires Income
SQN Secured Income Fund
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Standard Life Private Equity Trust
Value and Income Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)