Week ahead: US and Japanese data in the spotlight
Despite most market operators having already squared their trading books in the run-up to Christmas, quite a few first-tier macroeconomic indicators are scheduled for release in the coming week.
Foremost among those will be reports on durable goods orders, personal income and spending, and new home sales for the month of November.
Data on Japanese consumer prices and unemployment at the end of the week will also be closely watched, given that some analysts are still holding out for more monetary stimulus from the Bank of Japan.
In the Eurozone, the key event may well be Spain´s national elections on 20 December, given the importance of that periphery economy.
The political dynamics in that Mediterranean country bear a close resemblance to those in its regional neighbours.
Although the economy appears to be on the mend, the pace of recovery is still seen as painfully slow for the many who have had to endure a sometimes brutal worsening in their economic conditions, with half a generation of young people still facing the prospect of remaining permanently locked out ofthe labour market.
Back in Britain, and given the fiscal headwinds the country is facing, the focus will be on Tuesday´s release of November´s public sector borrowing figures.
Monday December 21
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Establishment Inv Trust, General Industries, LondonMetric Property
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
UIL Limited (DI)
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Total SA
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Confidence Indicator (EU) (10:00)
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
GMS
Betfair Group, Findel, Journey Group, Proactis Holdings
EGMS
Paddy Power
AGMS
Frontier IP Group, Octagonal, Red Rock Resources, Resource Holding Management Limited (DI)
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Distributive Trades Surveys (11:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Fidelity Special Values, Lok'n Store Group, Smart (J) & Co., Utilitywise plc
Tuesday December 22
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
GDP (Final) (US) (13:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
House Price Index (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Canadian General Investments Ltd.
EGMS
Air China Ltd., Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd., Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares
AGMS
GoldStone Resources Ltd, Upland Resources Limited (DI)
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Confidence (09:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:05)
Public Sector Finances (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Northern Venture Trust, St Ives
Wednesday December 23
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Downing Four VCT DP2011 Low Carb, Downing Four VCT DP2011 Str, Downing Four VCT DP2011Gen, Investec, Record
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
15:00 - U. of Michigan Confidence (Final) (US) (15:00)
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Income (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (13:30)
GMS
Eco City Vehicles
AGMS
Aurora Russia Ltd., Churchill Mining, Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (DI), Regency Mines, Tiso Blackstar Group SE (DI)
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Payments (09:30)
Current Account (09:30)
GDP (quarterly national accounts) (09:30)
Index of Services (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Downing Four VCT DSO 'B' Shs
Thursday December 24
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Acal, BT Group, Burberry Group, Ensor Holdings, Fair Oaks Income Fund Limited C Shs NPV, Fulcrum Utility Services Ltd. (DI), Gateley (Holdings) , KCOM Group, Premier Farnell Cum Cnv Red Prf (Sterling Coupon), Premier Farnell Cum Conv Red Pref Shs 1(USD Cpn), RPC Group, Vertu Motors
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Bank of America Corp., Duet Real Estate Finance Ltd
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Schroder Income Growth Fund
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Polymetal International
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
M Winkworth
AGMS
Emerging Market Minerals
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BBA Mortgage Lending Figures (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Pan African Resources
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Cambria Automobiles, Elegant Hotels Group , Grainger, Inland Homes, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund
Friday December 25
EGMS
PJSC RusHydro ADR