Friday preview: Eurozone inflation in focus as ECB faces calls for fresh stimulus
The final estimate on September Eurozone inflation will be in focus on Friday as the European Central Bank comes under mounting pressure to boost stimulus.
Eurostat is expected to confirm the consumer price index fell 0.1% year-on-year in September, down from August’s 0.1% rise, as energy prices continued to drag.
The expected deflation comes despite the ECB’s €60bn monthly asset purchase programme.
ECB governing council member Edward Nowotny on Thursday said fresh measures were needed to lift inflation towards the monetary authority’s target of just below 2%.
"The ECB is using monetary policy instruments available but in my view it’s quite obvious that ... additional sets of instruments are necessary," Nowotny said at an event in Warsaw.
"These include structural measures ... but also on the demand side of the economy and also on the institutional factors of the economy."
On the calendar elsewhere, the University of Michigan’s consumer confidence report is due in Friday afternoon trading as well as industrial production figures.
Following a batch of recent negative US data including retail sales and non-farm-payrolls, any further weakness is likely to add to expectations the Federal Reserve will hold off on raising interest rates this month.
Friday 16 October
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Barr (A.G.), Christie Group, Computacenter, esure Group, G4S, Glanbia, Highcroft Investment, Highland Gold Mining Ltd., Octopus AIM VCT 2, Petrofac Ltd., Robert Walters, SafeCharge International Group Limited (DI), Total Produce, Treatt, Tribal Group
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (EU) (10:00)
Industrial Production (US) (14:15)
New Car Registrations (EU) (10:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)
Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)
GMS
React Energy, Trinity Exploration & Production
FINALS
Volution Group (WI)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
esure Group
AGMS
Mortice Ltd. (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Record
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Best of the Best, Dart Group, Trifast, United Carpets Group