All eyes on Thursday were expected to be on the Bank of England with the Monetary Policy Committee expected to announce a 50 basis point hike in Bank Rate to 2.25%.
Economists at Barclays Research anticipated that seven MPC members would vote for a 50bp rate hike with an eighth member seen voting for a 75bp move and another for a smaller 25bp increase.
“All things considered, we expect the BoE to maintain a hawkish tilt at the September meeting, and that the energy price freeze and a slowing economy mean that the MPC will also soon have to rethink its policy narrative,” Barclays said.
“Such a collective shift is unlikely at the September meeting given details of the government’s fiscal plans will not be released in time (the fiscal event is scheduled for 23 September, one day after the MPC).”
Rate-setters in Japan were also set to announce their latest policy decision, even if no change was anticipated, due to the ongoing and pronounced weakness in the yen.
Also overnight, interest rate hikes were expected to materialise in Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Central banks were also expected to be in focus on the Continent as monetary policymakers in Norway and Switzerland announced their latest policy moves.
Their rate hike announcements were scheduled for 0900 BST and 0830 BST, respectively.
For later in the session, as on every Thursday, investors would be keeping tabs on the latest weekly jobless claims data and a reading on the second quarter US current account deficit.
Both releases were due out at 1330 BST.
Thursday 22 September
FINALS
Wilmington, Hansard Global, Time Finance
INTERIMS
Distribution Finance Capital Holdings, Osirium, Technologies, Ceres Power Holdings, Forward Partners Group, Playtech, Biome Technologies, Brave Bison Group, Life Science REIT, Aquis Exchange, Safestyle UK, Judges Scientific, PensionBee Group, Learning Technologies Group
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Investec, Time Finance
AGMs
IG Design Group, Begbies Traynor Group, Trakm8 Holdings, Worsley Investors Limited NPV
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Brooks Macdonald Group, Finncap Group, FRP Advisory Group, IG Group Holdings, Mercia Asset Management, FIH Group, Walker Crips Group, Hargreaves Lansdown, Gateley (Holdings), Redrow
Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, Mattioli Woods, Hargreaves Services
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), XPS Pensions Group, SSE, Brickability Group, Base Resources Ltd
INTERIM EX_DIVIDEND DATE
Elecosoft Public Limited Company, BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust, Gamma Communications, Fidelity European Trust, Videndum, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), Thungela Resources Limited NPV (DI), Palace Capital, Kenmare Resources (CDI), Chelverton UK Dividend Trust, Essentra, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Forterra, Driver Group, Income & Growth VCT, Keystone Law Group, STV Group, Mobeus Income & Growth 4 Vct, Crest Nicholson Holdings, JTC, TT Electronics, HGCapital Trust, Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI), Property Franchise Group, RBG Holdings, Churchill China, Portmeirion Group, Robinson, EPWIN GROUP, Old Mutual Limited NPV (DI)
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Riverstone Credit Opportunities Income, Provident Financial, Abrdn Equity Income Trust, Entain, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Sabre Insurance Group
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, Hargreaves Services
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust, Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Current Account (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
