Week ahead: Christmas, US budget deal in the spotlight

(Sharecast News) - 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