Thursday preview: MPC and November retail sales in focus
Financial markets' focus on Thursday will shift back towards the UK, as rate-setters on the Monetary Policy Committee meet to decide on policy, against a backdrop of rising expectations for rate cuts after the Prime Minister revived the possibility of a 'hard Brexit' if no trade deal with Brussels was in place by the end of 2020.
No policy changes were anticipated at Thursday's MPC meeting, but some analysts did expect the balance of votes on the MPC to shift further in favour of a cut in Bank Rate, from a 7-2 vote in favour of no change the last time around to 6-3 this time.
"Going forward, we expect meetings to be "live" in that data releases ahead of the meetings may tilt the balance of votes in favour of a cut at any time," said analysts at Barclays Research.
Also due out was a report on monthly retail sales volumes in November at 0930 GMT, followed by the Confederation of British Industry's distributive trades index for December at 1100 GMT.
Policymakers at the Bank of England aren't the only ones due to meet, with those at the Bank of Japan, Norges Bank and Riksbank all set to make policy announcements.
Thursday 19 December
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Card Factory
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alliance Pharma, Avation, Burberry Group, Circle Property , Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Finncap Group , Fuller Smith & Turner, International Biotech Trust, Iomart Group, Mind Gym, Mitie Group, MS International, Octopus AIM VCT, Octopus Apollo VCT, Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI), Polar Capital Holdings, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Superdry, United Utilities Group, Vianet Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Regional REIT Limited
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Standard Life Private Equity Trust, Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Current Account (US) (13:30)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Card Factory
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alternative Liquidity Fund Limited, LMS Capital, Octopus AIM VCT
EGMS
Air China Ltd., Etalon Group GDR (Reg S)
AGMS
Egdon Resources, Fragrant Prosperity Holdings Limited, Haydale Graphene Industries, Parkmead Group (The), SkinBioTherapeutics , Smart (J) & Co., Transense Technologies
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Retail Sales (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Craneware
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Cambria Automobiles, Countryside Properties, Netcall, Topps Tiles