Friday preview: US consumer confidence, Coca-Cola HBC results

15th May 2014 15:11

A preliminary report on US economic confidence on Friday is expected to show an increase in the outlook for the world's biggest economy in May.The University of Michigan's sentiment index may rise 84.5 this month from 84.1 in April, according to forecasts. The data comes a day after reports showed inflation rose and weekly jobless claims fell.The annual rate inflation rose 2% in April following a 1.5% increase a month earlier, in line with economists' projections and the Federal Reserve's target. Initial jobless claims for the week ended May 10th came in at 297,000, compared to 319,000 the previous week. Economists had pencilled in 320,000.On the company front on Friday, will be first quarter results from FTSE 100-listed Coca Cola HBC AG with the focus to be on an update on trading in Russia and Ukraine to see whether the turmoil has affected performance. Volumes at the bottling company last year in Russia and Ukraine were 18.8% and 3.8% respectively.Interim results from Bovis Homes, Henry Boot and Menzies will also help cap off the week. Friday May 16thINTERIMSGraingerINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECarr's Milling Industries, GETECH Group, Kier Group, Next Fifteen CommunicationsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (EU) (10:00)Building Permits (US) (13:30)Housing Starts (US) (13:30)New Car Registrations (EU) (10:00)U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (14:55)Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)IMSSAlpha Pyrenees Trust Ltd., Bovis Homes Group, Henry Boot, Inchcape, Intertek Group, Keller Group, Kentz Corporation Ltd., Menzies(John), SIG, Centamin Egypt, Coca-Cola HBC AG,SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEMillennium & Copthorne Hotels, Novae GroupEGMSTreattAGMSBovis Homes Group, Braime (T.F.& J.H.) Holdings, Brammer, Cenkos Securities, Centamin (DI), Chesnara, Fresnillo, Highcroft Investment, Inchcape, Intertek Group, Kentz Corporation Ltd., Menzies(John), NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., SIG, Total SA, Tribal Group, TymanFINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEArbuthnot Banking Group, ARM Holdings, Aviva, Clarke (T.), Devro, Downing Planned Exit VCT 2011 (General Shares), Downing Planned Exit VCT 2011 (Low Carbon Shares), Downing Planned Exit VCT 2011 (Structured Shares), Drax Group, Friends Life Group Limited , Fyffes, Glanbia, HGCapital Trust, Johnson Service Group, Man Group, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Mobeus Income & Growth 4 Vct, Novae Group, Quixant, St James's PlaceQ1Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI)RD