Friday preview: US data, ECB minutes in focus
Investors' focus at the end of the week will be on a deluge of first-tier economic data out of the US.
Chief among those will be a report on retail sales for April and a preliminary reading on US consumer confidence.
Gauges for inflation expectations contained in the latter will be of particular interest given financial markets' heightened concern of late on that front.
Also due out are readings for monthly industrial production, business inventories and import prices.
Across the Channel meanwhile, at 1130 BST the European Central Bank will publish the minutes of its most recent rate-setting meeting.
Friday 14 May
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AB Dynamics, Seneca Growth Capital Vct B, Smiths Group, Softcat
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (15:00)
Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)
Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)
Industrial Production (US) (14:15)
Retail Sales (US) (13:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
John Laing Group , Jupiter Fund Management
AGMS
Derwent London, DigitalBox, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Menzies(John), Phoenix Group Holdings , Pittards, Sabre Insurance Group, Spectris, St James's Place, Tasty, Triple Point Social Housing Reit, Wishbone Gold (DI)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alpha Fx Group , Antofagasta, Aviva, Drax Group, EMIS Group, Hunting, Ibstock , IMI, John Laing Group , JPMorgan US Smaller Co. Inv Tst, Jupiter Fund Management , Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Quixant, Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company , Taylor Wimpey, Ultra Electronics Holdings, Vitec Group
Q1
Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S), Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S)