Thursday preview: BoE, Diageo in the spotlight

Prior to the recent wave of risk aversion surrounding the new China coronavirus, analysts were divided on whether the Monetary Policy Committee would announce a 25 basis point cut in Bank Rate, with one number cruncher in the City of the opinion that the Old Lady of Threadneedle was doomed to surprise markets whatever no matter what it did.

However, the coronavirus epidemic in the world's largest economy may have been enough to move the dial in favour of a cut.

Stateside, focus will be on a preliminary reading for US gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2019 with consensus anticipating growth of 2.2%.

Across the Channel meanwhile, markets' attention will be on the European Commission's consumer and industrial confidence surveys for January and German consumer price and unemployment data referencing that same month.

On the corporate front, investors will be waiting on the latest set of interims out of spirits maker Diageo, referencing the first half of the 2020 financial year.

Analysts at Citi told clients to expect a slowdown in the rate of organic sales growth to 4.0%, versus the 4.2% that the consensus had penciled in.

At 3.5%, Citi was also expecting the organic rate of growth in the company's earnings before interest and taxes to come in shy of analysts' estimates for a rise of 4.0%.

The company may also trim its full-year guidance for organic sales due to the soft operating environment in India, the broker said.

On the upside, Diageo could surprise when it came to expectations for share buybacks in the year ahead.

Indeed, Citi though that likely.

Thursday 30 January

INTERIMS

Best of the Best, Haynes Publishing Group, Rank Group, Renishaw

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Cohort, CPL Resources, IG Group Holdings, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., Totally

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

APQ Global Limited, Custodian Reit , Merchants Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

GDP (Preliminary) (US) (13:30)

Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)

Q4

Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B', Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (ATT) GDR (Reg S), Unilever

FINALS

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (ATT) GDR (Reg S), Unilever

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Hollywood Bowl Group

AGMS

Avon Rubber, Hollywood Bowl Group, Inspirit Energy Holdings, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Unicorn AIM VCT

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Evraz, Fuller Smith & Turner

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)

Consumer Credit (09:30)

M4 Money Supply (09:30)

Mortgage Approvals (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Up Global Sourcing Holdings , WH Smith

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Chrysalis VCT, Hollywood Bowl Group, Renew Holdings, Stock Spirits Group , Sureserve Group, Tracsis, Victrex plc