Week ahead: ECB, US CPI in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus over the coming week will be on the European Central Bank as rate-setters in Frankfurt meet on Thursday to decide on monetary policy.

Consensus is for a 25 basis point reduction in the main refinancing rate to 3.15%, but some economists see scope for a larger 50bp cut.

In the US meanwhile, Wednesday will bring with it the latest monthly reading on consumer prices.

That will be perhaps the last key macroeconomic report before the 18 December meeting of the US Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee.

The data schedule in Asia Pacific will also be quite busy.

On 8 December a reading is due out for Japanese gross domestic product growth in the third quarter.

It will be followed by the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan business confidence survey, also on Thursday.

Chinese consumer and producer price data for the month of November will be released on Monday.

Foreign trade data for that same period will be forthcoming during the next session.

Central bankers in Australia and Switzerland will hold policy meetings on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

Back on home shores, on Friday consultancy GfK will publish the results of its consumer confidence survey for December.

UK GDP figures for October will be out on the same day.

Monday 09 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Ext Shs, NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Red Ord

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

GMS

Nativo Resources, Nova Ljubljanska Banka D.D., Ljubljana GDR (Reg S)

EGMS

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals , JSC Halyk Bank GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Critical Metals , Marwyn Value Investors Limited, Plexus Holdings, Softcat, Target Healthcare Reit Ltd

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

YouGov

Tuesday 10 December

INTERIMS

Moonpig Group , Moonpig Group , Naked Wines, Solid State

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Q2

Ashtead Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Ext Shs, NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited Red Ord

EGMS

MHP SE GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Agriterra LD, Ashoka India Equity Investment Trust, Fidelity Emerging Markets Limited Ptg NPV, Henderson International Income Trust, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Schroder Japan Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Pan African Resources

Q1

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. (DI)

Wednesday 11 December

INTERIMS

Cohort, Optima Health

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Card Factory, Cavendish Financial

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Budget Statement (US) (19:00)

Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

FINALS

TUI AG Reg Shs (DI)

ANNUAL REPORT

TUI AG Reg Shs (DI)

EGMS

Societatea Energetica Electrica SA GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Baillie Gifford Japan Trust, Gattaca, Guardian Metal Resources, Microsaic Systems, PCI-PAL, Tavistock Investments, Time Out Group, Volution Group

Thursday 12 December

INTERIMS

4Global, Currys , De La Rue, Gore Street Energy Storage Fund , Gore Street Energy Storage Fund

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cake Box Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

ASA International Group , Baltic Classifieds Group, Caffyns, Celebrus Technologies, Cranswick, Discoverie Group, DSW Capital, Fuller Smith & Turner, Halfords Group, Investec, Ninety One , Sirius Real Estate Ltd., Smith (DS), TR Property Inv Trust, Vertu Motors, Vianet Group, Zigup

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Brunner Inv Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Assura , Patria Private Equity Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (01:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Q4

Benchmark Holdings

GMS

Dci Advisors LTD

FINALS

Benchmark Holdings , RWS Holdings

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Associated British Foods

EGMS

Dci Advisors LTD

AGMS

Aeorema Communications, Bellway, Fidelity Special Values, Orosur Mining Inc, Thor Explorations Ltd (DI), Westmount Energy Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Springfield Properties

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Associated British Foods, Coral Products, Northamber, Oxford Metrics, REA Holdings 9% Cum. Prf. #1, Redcentric

Friday 13 December

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Airtel Africa , B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), C&C Group (CDI), CML Microsystems, DCC (CDI), Inspired, Investec Non-Red Non-Cum Non-Part Prf Shs, Kainos Group , Portmeirion Group, Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust, Tatton Asset Management , Wynnstay Properties

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD), Petrotal Corporation NPV (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

GMS

Atrato Onsite Energy

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Lancashire Holdings Limited

AGMS

Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited NPV, Kromek Group, Ultimate Products

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aeci 5 1/2% Prf, Blackfinch Spring VCT , Fidelity Emerging Markets Limited Ptg NPV, Fiske, Gattaca, James Halstead, New Star Investment Trust, Schroder Japan Trust