Week ahead: Ukraine war, Fed, BoE in the spotlight

People around the world will be hoping that reports that an agreement to end the conflict could be reached over the coming days will prove correct, even as they guard against the risk of it worsening or spreading.

Against that backdrop, the key event during the week will be the US central bank's policy announcement on Wednesday.

Rate-setters at the Federal Reserve are widely expected to hike the target range for the Fed funds rate by 25 basis points to 0.25-0.50%, with investors eager for more guidance as regards its plans for future hikes and for running off its balance sheet.

Policymakers at the Bank of England are also seen hiking rates and, according to economists at Barclays Research, there is even a low probability that one or two members on the Monetary Policy Committee might vote for no change in policy and in any case the conflict in Ukraine is likely to see the MPC strike a dovish tone.

Across the Channel meanwhile, the ZEW institute's economic confidence index for Germany, in March, is due out on Tuesday and will provide a glimpse into analysts' initial reaction to the war.

European Central Bank chief, Christine Lagarde, is due to speak at 'The ECB ad its Watchers XXII' conference on Thursday, alongside ECB chief economist Philip Lane and governing council member Isabel Schnabel.

On Friday, it will be the turn of the Bank of Japan to decide on monetary policy.

Chinese activity data for February, on Tuesday, will also be closely watched.

Monday 14 March

INTERIMS

Craneware, Fonix Mobile , Nightcap

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Tritax Eurobox (EUR), Tritax Eurobox (GBP)

FINALS

Hostmore , Phoenix Group Holdings , Stelrad Group

ANNUAL REPORT

Senior

AGMS

Helium One Group Ltd (DI)

Tuesday 15 March

INTERIMS

Close Brothers Group, DFS Furniture, Ferguson, Litigation Capital Management Limited (DI), Virgin Wines UK

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Canadian General Investments Ltd., Merchants Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

Producer Price Index (US) (12:30)

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Current Situation (10:00)

ZEW Survey (GER) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

FINALS

Aptitude Software Group , Genel Energy, Genuit Group, Gresham House, Old Mutual Limited NPV (DI), Petrofac Ltd., Smart Metering Systems, TI Fluid Systems, Tissue Regenix Group

ANNUAL REPORT

Old Mutual Limited NPV (DI)

AGMS

BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, Newcastle 12 5/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000

Wednesday 16 March

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (14:00)

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Empires State Manufactacturing (US) (12:30)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (11:00)

Retail Sales (US) (12:30)

FINALS

4Imprint Group, Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Centaur Media, CLS Holdings, CLS Holdings, Computacenter, Ferrexpo, IP Group, IP Group, Pharos Energy , Restaurant Group, RPS Group, Science In Sport

AGMS

IDOX, Safestore Holdings, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (ATT) GDR (Reg S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (07:00)

Producer Price Index (07:00)

Retail Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Tharisa (DI)

Thursday 17 March

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Ideagen, Knights Group Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Brooks Macdonald Group, Colefax Group, Dunelm Group, Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited NPV, Ince Group (The), JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, NWF Group, Thorpe (F.W.), Trifast, Triple Point VCT 2011 'B'

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Limited NPV, Standard Life Private Equity Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building Permits (US) (12:30)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (13:15)

Continuing Claims (US) (12:30)

Housing Starts (US) (12:30)

Industrial Production (US) (13:15)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (12:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (12:30)

Retail Sales (US) (12:30)

FINALS

Ceres Power Holdings, Cineworld Group, Deliveroo Class A , EMIS Group, Empresaria Group, Harbour Energy , Helios Towers , Marshalls, PensionBee Group , Portmeirion Group, Transgloble Energy Corporation NPV (DI), Tribal Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo American, Thorpe (F.W.)

AGMS

Autins Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ocado Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Treatt

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo American, Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red), BlackRock World Mining Trust, Crest Nicholson Holdings, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd (Bermuda), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), HGCapital Trust, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), MTI Wireless Edge Ltd., NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P, RM, SEGRO, Spirent Communications

Friday 18 March

INTERIMS

Wetherspoon (J.D.)

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

FINALS

Contour Global , Eurocell , Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares

ANNUAL REPORT

Intertek Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dunelm Group, SLF Realisation Fund Limited C Shs NPV, SLF Realisation Fund Limited NPV

AGMS

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Caracal Gold, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Investec

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Zytronic