The spotlight over the coming week is likely to be on progress with vaccination programmes around the world.
In the US and UK, inoculations are running ahead of Barclays’ forecasts made in early December, but others now insist that a further pick up is needed in order to reach so-called ‘herd immunity’ as quickly as possible, even by summer.
Indeed, in a research report sent to clients on 15 January, Barclays conceded that the new virus strains might push out the timeline for reaching herd immunity and require higher levels of inoculations than previously thought.
Linked to the above, at a summit on Friday, European Union leader will discuss their strategy for rolling out vaccines and other measures to contain the novel coronavirus, particularly any new strains.
Investors will likely also be keeping close tabs on the latest Covid-19 outbreaks in China, which initial reports indicate are showing faster than expected rates of propagation, although for the moment they remain small.
As regards economic data, on home shores the week will be back-end loaded with monthly readings for consumer confidence, retail sales, public sector borrowing and factory activity all scheduled for release on Friday.
Stateside the focus will be on the Philly Fed’s regional manufacturing sector index for January, which may show continued resilience in factory activity in that part of the country.
A close eye will also be kept on the latest weekly jobless claims data.
Preliminary factory Purchasing Managers’ Indices will also be in focus across the Channel, on Friday, in the euro area.
The EU summit may also yield more detailed information regarding the expected speed of vaccinations at the national level going forwards.
Ahead of all of the above, on Thursday the European Central Bank will meet to decide on interest rates.
Interest rate decisions are also scheduled for China and Malaysia on Wednesday, and in Norway and Indonesia the following day.
Monday January 18
FINALS
AFH Financial Group
AGMS
Craven House Capital
Tuesday January 19
INTERIMS
Knights Group Holdings , Knights Group Holdings , Time Finance , U And I Group
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
MS International
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Current Account (EU) (09:00)
ZEW Survey (EU) – Economic Sentiment (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) – Current Situation (10:00)
ZEW Survey (GER) – Economic Sentiment (10:00)
FINALS
Watkin Jones
EGMS
Flutter Entertainment
AGMS
C4X Discovery Holdings , Tracsis
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Etalon Group GDR (Reg S), Experian, Henry Boot, Kier Group, Premier Foods, Rio Tinto
Wednesday January 20
INTERIMS
Van Elle Holdings
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ventus VCT D Shs, Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus 2 VCT ‘C’ Shares, Ventus 2 VCT D Shs, Ventus VCT, Ventus VCT ‘C’ Shares
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
GMS
Sabien Technology Group
AGMS
Diploma, Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust, Majedie Investments, Prairie Mining Limited, Residential Secure Income, WH Smith
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Antofagasta, BHP Group, Burberry Group, Cairn Energy, City of London Investment Group, CMC Markets, Diploma, Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S), Wetherspoon (J.D.), WH Smith
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (07:00)
Producer Price Index (07:00)
Retail Price Index (07:00)
Thursday January 21
INTERIMS
IG Group Holdings, Sensyne Health
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
GB Group, Sirius Real Estate Ltd.
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Stenprop Limited
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
JpMorgan China Growth & Income , M Winkworth, Supermarket Income Reit
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Building Permits (US) (13:30)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)
Housing Starts (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Best of the Best
EGMS
Grafton Group Ut, Kenmare Resources
AGMS
Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust , Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , BrandShield Systems, Henderson Far East Income Ltd., Mineral & Financial Investments Limited (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
AJ Bell, Arrow Global Group, Close Brothers Group, Countryside Properties, Energean , Eve Sleep PLC, Luceco , Sage Group
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Dewhurst, Dewhurst (Non-Voting), RWS Holdings
Friday January 22
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
JPMorgan Euro Small Co. Trust, Wincanton
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Real Estate Investors, Volta Finance Limited, Volta Finance Limited NPV (GBP)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
GMS
Egdon Resources, Salt Lake Potash Limited (DI)
AGMS
Character Group, Ironveld, TheWorks.Co.Uk
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Computacenter, Record, TheWorks.Co.Uk
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)
Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AB Dynamics, Northern Venture Trust
