Financial markets’ focus will shift to the US and UK over the coming week, as rate-setters in both jurisdictions meet to decide on policy, on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Neither the Federal Reserve nor the Bank of England are expected to announce any policy changes, but remarks from policymakers will be carefully parsed for any guidance regarding how the recent rise in government bond yields might, or may not, be influencing their thinking.
Also key during the week will be a barrage of activity indicators referencing February due out in the Peoples Republic of China, on Monday.
They will be followed the next day by readings on monthly US industrial production and retail sales.
On home shore, the main economic report will arrive on Friday, in the shape of public sector net borrowing figures, also for February.
Across the Channel meanwhile, the spotlight will be on the ZEW institute’s economic sentiment index for March.
Monday 15 March
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Canadian General Investments Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Current Account (US) (12:30)
GMS
Coro Energy
FINALS
Diaceutics , HGCapital Trust
AGMS
Hardide
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
LLoyds Banking Group 6.475% Non-Cum Pref Shares, Newcastle 12 5/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000
Tuesday 16 March
INTERIMS
Ferguson, Litigation Capital Management Limited (DI), SCS Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Merchants Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Inventories (US) (14:00)
Capacity Utilisation (US) (13:15)
Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)
Industrial Production (US) (13:15)
Retail Sales (US) (12:30)
Retail Sales Less Autos (US) (12:30)
Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)
ZEW Survey (EU) – Economic Sentiment (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) – Current Situation (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) – Economic Sentiment (10:00)
GMS
Plus500 Ltd (DI)
FINALS
4Imprint Group, Antofagasta, Bakkavor Group , Bango, BioPharma Credit , Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S Cat 3/144A, Close Brothers Group, Computacenter, Costain Group, Fintel, Greggs, Harworth Group, Joint Stock Company National Atomic Company Kazatomprom GDR (Reg S) , KRM22, Polypipe Group , Sabre Insurance Group, STV Group, Team17 Group, Unite Group, Wood Group (John)
AGMS
Blue Prism Group, Starvest
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
C&C Group
Wednesday 17 March
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ideagen, K3 Capital Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Unilever
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Building Permits (US) (12:30)
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Housing Starts (US) (12:30)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (11:00)
Retail Sales (US) (12:30)
FINALS
Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Dignity, Empiric Student Property , Ferrexpo, Hostelworld Group , Kape Technologies, MPAC Group, Science In Sport, Tribal Group
EGMS
Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd GDR (Reg S)
AGMS
Aura Energy Limited NPV (DI), LPA Group, Safestore Holdings
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust
Thursday 18 March
INTERIMS
Ceres Power Holdings
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
FRP Advisory Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Beeks Financial Cloud Group, Brooks Macdonald Group, Clinigen Group, Craneware, Dunelm Group, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, Livermore Investments Group Ltd., NWF Group
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BlackRock World Mining Trust, Standard Life Private Equity Trust, Yew Grove Reit
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (12:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (12:30)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (12:30)
GMS
CML Microsystems, National World
FINALS
888 Holdings, Audioboom Group, Capital Limited (DI), Empresaria Group, Eve Sleep PLC, Fevertree Drinks, Genel Energy, National Express Group, Portmeirion Group, Restore, The Gym Group
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Spirent Communications
EGMS
The Schiehallion Fund Limited NPV
AGMS
Amino Technologies, Bigdish NPV, Drum Income Plus Reit, IDOX, Impax Asset Management Group, Sureserve Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Northamber, Treatt
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Anglo American, CRH, CRH 7% ‘A’ Cum Prf Eur 1.27, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, MTI Wireless Edge Ltd., RM, SEGRO, Spirent Communications
Friday 19 March
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
City of London Investment Group, Fonix Mobile , Home Reit
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (USD)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
GMS
Red Rock Resources
FINALS
Contour Global , Sanne Group
ANNUAL REPORT
Fisher (James) & Sons, Intertek Group, Intertek Group
AGMS
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)
