Tuesday preview: Global PMIs, Putin speech in the spotlight
All eyes on Tuesday will be on the release of factory and services sector Purchasing Managers' Indices in the UK, euro area and US for the month of February.
Set against recent stronger-than-expected growth data from around the world, albeit while also pointing to stickier inflation, the PMIs, together with Friday's US inflation numbers "should provide further cues in this nervous, data-driven environment," economists at Barclays Research said.
On home shores, consultancy S&P Global's factory PMI was expected to have edged up from 47.0 to 47.5 and that for services from 48.7 to 49.2.
Such readings would be compatible with a small decline in first quarter economic growth, Barclays said.
The two survey results were scheduled for release at 0930 GMT.
Similar PMIs for the euro area, due out at 0900 GMT, were expected to show an improvement from 48.8 to 49.4 and from 50.8 to 51.2, respectively.
In the US meanwhile, the PMIs were seen rising from 46.9 to 47.0 and from 46.8 to 46.9.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to deliver a speech in which he would make similar points to those contained in a draft peace plan tabled by Beijing at the end of the prior week.
The Chinese proposal, the full details of which had not yet been published, reportedly included calls for a ceasefire and a halt in arms deliveries to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.
For his part, Chinese state counsellor, Wang Yi, had reportedly also said that the proposal included calls for territorial integrity to be respected, protecting nuclear installations, and a ban on the use of biochemical weapons.
However, Western diplomats had reacted with skepticism to Beijing's proposals.
Tuesday 21 February
INTERIMS
Blancco Technology Group, Finsbury Food Group, Springfield Properties
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
PMI Composite (US) (14:45)
PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)
PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (GER) (08:30)
PMI Services (US) (14:45)
ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
Q4
Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI)
FINALS
Antofagasta, Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI), HSBC Holdings, InterContinental Hotels Group, Standard Chartered
EGMS
Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.
AGMS
Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, US Solar Fund, Virgin Money UK
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Safestore Holdings
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Composite (09:30)
PMI Manufacturing (09:30)