Week ahead: Christmas, US budget deal in the spotlight
The coming week ought to be calm with a slightly positive bias to trading, as most market participants worldwide will be away from their desks during the Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations.
In the UK, trading on the London Stock Exchange will be shortened on Tuesday, with the venue closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
The New York Stock Exchange will only conduct a half-day of operations on Tuesday and will remain closed on Christmas Day.
Against that backdrop, investors will be digesting the last-minute budget deal reached on Capitol Hill.
Investors will also be monitoring updates from the main retailers on either side of the Pond in order to gauge consumer spending.
In Japan however, Thursday will see the release of a barrage of economic indicators, including readings on Tokyo CPI, industrial production and unemployment.
Monday 23 December
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Confidence (US) (15:30)
AGMS
Virgin Wines UK
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (07:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Avation
Tuesday 24 December
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
ASA International Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BT Group, Focusrite, Tavistock Investments, The Global Smaller Companies Trust
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Duke Capital Limited, Real Estate Investors
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)
New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
British Smaller Companies VCT, British Smaller Companies VCT 2
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aeorema Communications, BP 8% Cum 1st Prf, BP 9% 2nd Prf, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Lowland Investment Co, Netcall, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund
Wednesday 25 December
EGMS
SDIC Power Holdings Co.,Ltd GDR (Reg S)
AGMS
Bioventix
Thursday 26 December
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (16:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Friday 27 December
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Diversified Energy Company
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)
GMS
THG
AGMS
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas NPV (DI), OPG Power Ventures, SkinBioTherapeutics