Week ahead: BoJ, US inflation data in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus over the next to last trading week of 2023 will shift to Asia, with the Bank of Japan and People's Bank of China both scheduled to announce policy decisions. First up will be the BoJ, on Tuesday. Consensus is for no change in policy, but the tone of its policy statement will be closely watched for any shifts.

The PBoC will follow on Wednesday with no changes anticipated here either.

Against that backdrop, on Friday the U.S. Department of Commerce will release its personal income and spending report for November.

Included in that will be the latest readings on the price deflator for personal consumption expenditures, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge.

Other reports to watch out for in the States will be the Philly Fed's regional factory index, on Thursday, and another for durable goods orders the next day.

On home shores meanwhile, on Wednesday the Office for National Statistics will publish consumer price data for November.

Readings for public sector net borrowing and third quarter gross domestic product will follow over the next two sessions.

In Germany, the IFO institute's closely followed business confidence survey was due out on Monday.

Wednesday would bring with it reports on German consumer confidence and producer prices.

The London Stock Exchange would open for only a shortened trading session on 22 December.

Monday 18 December

INTERIMS

Amigo Holdings

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

GMS

Ascential, LondonMetric Property

FINALS

Hollywood Bowl Group

ANNUAL REPORT

ADVFN

AGMS

Braemar , Fandango Holdings

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

New Star Investment Trust

Tuesday 19 December

INTERIMS

De La Rue, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV, Libertine Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BP

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building Permits (US) (13:30)

Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (EU) (10:00)

Housing Starts (US) (13:30)

GMS

easyJet, Rockfire Resources

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Softcat

AGMS

DotDigital Group, Netcall, Orosur Mining Inc, Technology Minerals, Tristel, Zanaga Iron Ore Co. Ltd (DI)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Softcat, Volution Group

Wednesday 20 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aquila Services Group, Yu Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Current Account (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

GMS

RM Infrastructure Income, Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S)

FINALS

Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

abrdn Asia Focus

AGMS

AVI Global Trust , Burning Rock Biotech Limited Ads (Each Repr 1 Class A Ord Usd0.0002), Focusrite, Northamber, Solgold

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Time Finance

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (07:00)

Producer Price Index (07:00)

Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)

Retail Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, BlackRock Greater Europe Inv Trust, London Finance & Investment Group, Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust

Thursday 21 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, British American Inv Trust, Octopus Titan VCT

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CML Microsystems, Dunedin Enterprise Investment Trust, Halma, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, MS International, Octopus AIM VCT, Pharos Energy , PHSC, United Utilities Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Abrdn DIversified Income And Growth, Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust, British American Tobacco, Law Debenture Corp., Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

GMS

Pathfinder Minerals , Verditek

EGMS

Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.

AGMS

Beeks Financial Cloud Group, Gfinity , VietNam Holding Ltd

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aeorema Communications, Britvic, JPMorgan Japanese Inv Trust, Smart (J) & Co., Topps Tiles

Friday 22 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV, Inspiration Healthcare Group , Investec, Marks Electrical Group, NEWCASTLE 10 3/4% PERM INT BEARING SHS #1000, Ninety One , Record

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Personal Income (US) (13:30)

Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Final) (US) (15:00)

GMS

Tlou Energy Limited (DI), Various Eateries

EGMS

PJSC Tatneft ADS , SDIC Power Holdings Co.,Ltd GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Corcel, European Metals Holding Limited (DI), Gulf Investment Fund, Plexus Holdings, Wildcat Petroleum

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (06:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Tristelh