Week ahead: Fed´s Yellen, China data in focus
The key risk event over the coming week is expected to be Wednesday´s Humphrey Hawkins testimony from Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen before the US House of Representatives´ Financial Services Committee.
With just over two months to go until the Federal Open Market Committee´s March meeting, Ms. Yellen´s speech and answers in the follow-up questions and answers session will be parsed by investors for any clues on the likelihood that the Fed might pursue a slower pace of tightening in 2016 than envisaged at the end of last year.
Releases on US retail sales and consumer confidence for January and February, respectively, both due to be published on Friday, may also afford valuable data on just how well consumption spending will hold up at the start of the year.
Next in importance for investors will be the statistical releases due out from China, from Wednesday onwards, on money supply and credit. However, data out on 7 February on the country´s foreign reserves in December may also draw attention.
In the Eurozone, preliminary fourth quarter gross domestic product figures out of Germany on Friday will be worth keeping tabs on, as will Thursday´s Eurogroup meeting where finance ministers are expected to discuss the progress made on Greece´s rescue programme.
Back in the UK, the economic calendar is expected to be quite sparse, with Wednesday´s release of industrial and manufacturing production figures for December being the most relevant releases.
Monday 08 February
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
BT Group, Pinewood Group
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Artemis VCT
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Artemis VCT, Elegant Hotels Group , ITE Group, Lakehouse
Tuesday 09 February
INTERIMS
Redrow
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
IBM Corp.
GMS
Gail (India) Ltd GDR (Reg S)
FINALS
Bank Pekao SA GDS (Reg S), New Europe Property Investments
EGMS
Vast Resources
AGMS
F&C Capital & Income Inv Trust, TUI AG Reg Shs (DI)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Mitchells & Butlers
Wednesday 10 February
INTERIMS
Animalcare Group, Dunelm Group, Frontier Developments
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Halma
GMS
Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust
FINALS
Tullow Oil
AGMS
Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, BMR Mining, Daily Mail and General Trust A (Non.V), Income & Growth VCT , Port Erin Biopharma Investments Ltd, RWS Holdings, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Victrex plc
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bellway, Great Portland Estates
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI)
Thursday 11 February
INTERIMS
Ashmore Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Conviviality, Mattioli Woods, Murgitroyd Group, Rank Group, VPC Specialty Lending Investments
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BP
Q4
Nokia OYJ
FINALS
Ashmore Group, Henderson Group, Informa, Orange Polska S.A. GDR (Reg S), Rio Tinto
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Impax Asset Management Group, JPMorgan Russian Securities
AGMS
easyJet, Enterprise Inns, Paragon Group Of Companies, Paragon Group Of Companies, Unicorn AIM VCT
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dolphin Capital Investors Ltd, Enterprise Inns, Pennon Group
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Conygar Investment Company, easyHotel, Euromoney Institutional Investor
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Catco Reinsurance Opportunities Fund Ltd (DI), Dragon-Ukrainian Properties & Development, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Impax Asset Management Group, JPMorgan Russian Securities, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, Sage Group
Friday 12 February
INTERIMS
Monitise
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Consort Medical, QinetiQ Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
British Land Company, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.
FINALS
Holders Technology, Rolls-Royce Holdings
AGMS
GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Connect Group, Daily Mail and General Trust A (Non.V), Dunedin Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Grainger, Octopus VCT 3, Octopus VCT 4, Patisserie Holdings , Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Shaftesbury, Tracsis