Week ahead: Trade talks, Fedspeak in focus
The market spotlight over the coming week will be firmly on the US and China, as officials from both countries meet in Beijing to discuss trade.
Just as important as the progress achieved - or not - by trade negotiators will be a raft of Fed speakers who are scheduled to take to the podium starting from Wednesday, with central bank chairman, Jerome Powell, set to do so on Thursday.
Investors will be keen to better ascertain whether the prospect of further interest rate hikes is now well and truly off the table.
In terms of economic data releases, US and Chinese consumer price data are due out on Friday and Thursday, respectively.
Back in the UK, the main economic report, on industrial production and covering the month of November, is also due out on Friday.
Across the Channel, the minutes of the European Central Bank's last policy meeting are set for release on Thursday.
Monday January 07
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
3i Infrastructure, Big Yellow Group, Caffyns, Clipper Logistics , Homeserve
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)
AGMS
URU Metals Ltd. (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mattioli Woods, MJ Gleeson
Tuesday January 08
INTERIMS
Gateley (Holdings)
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Yu Group
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)
Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)
Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)
Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)
Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)
Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)
Services Confidence (EU) (10:00)
AGMS
Salvarx Group
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Greene King, SIG
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halifax House Price Index (08:00)
Wednesday January 09
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
3i Group, Electrocomponents, National Grid
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)
Current Account (GER) (07:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
Q4
Centamin (DI)
FINALS
Shoe Zone
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
ECO Animal Health Group
EGMS
Alpha Real Trust Ltd., PJSC Tatneft ADS
AGMS
Carr's Group, Regional Reit ZDP
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Barratt Developments, Greggs, Joules Group, Majestic Wine, Sainsbury (J), Stock Spirits Group , Ted Baker
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Bellway
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Barloworld Ltd.
Thursday January 10
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Alliance Pharma, Caledonia Investments, D4T4 Solutions, Intermediate Capital Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Amigo Holdings, QinetiQ Group, Workspace Group, XPS Pensions Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
GlaxoSmithKline, Total SA, XP Power Ltd. (DI)
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, BMO Private Equity Trust, JPMorgan Asian Investment Trust, JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust, Middlefield Canadian Income PCC, Primary Health Properties
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)
GMS
Baring Emerging Europe
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BHP Group, Seneca Growth Capital Vct
AGMS
Debenhams, Unicorn AIM VCT
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
InnovaDerma
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Baring Emerging Europe, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, DotDigital Group, Greencore Group, Henderson European Focus Trust, Income & Growth VCT , Majedie Investments, On The Beach Group , Paragon Banking Group, Stride Gaming, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company, Unicorn AIM VCT , Urban&Civic , WH Smith
Friday January 11
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Brown (N.) Group, Cropper (James), Marks & Spencer Group, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Norcros, PayPoint, Pets at Home Group , Polar Capital Holdings, Randgold Resources Ltd., Severfield, Tarsus Group, Telford Homes, Triad Group, VP, Wincanton
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Civitas Social Housing , Civitas Social Housing C Shs, Schlumberger Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (15:00)
Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)
ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
PayPoint
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Grafton Group Units
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (09:30)
Gross Domestic Product (09:30)
Index of Services (09:30)
Industrial Production (09:30)
Manufacturing Production (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aeorema Communications, Associated British Foods, Carr's Group, Lok'n Store Group