Friday preview: US inflation figures in the spotlight

All eyes at the end of the week will be on the release of key inflation data in the US.

In particular, investors will be looking to see whether the core price deflator for personal consumption expenditures slips back from the 5.0% year-on-year pace recorded in October to 4.6% as economists expect.

Worth noting, core PCE prices are the Fed's preferred inflation gauge and policymakers have been very clear that they expect a slower pace of decline than anticipated by the consensus due to the tight jobs market.

Hence the Federal Reserve's continued quite hawkish stance as regards monetary policy.

The data will be released at 1330 GMT.

Also due out, at 1500 GMT, are gauges of consumers' inflation expectations in December, courtesy of the University of Michigan, alongside fresh monthly new home sales figures.

Back in the UK, SMMT will publish car and engine manufacturing data for November.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the euro area.

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