Thursday preview: Investors look to US economic data after Fed

18th Sep 2013 14:47

With the Federal Reserve's closely watched policy meeting out of the way, investors will turn to the release of US data on Thursday.A Labor Department report on initial jobless claims in the world's biggest economy is expected to come in at 330,000 for the week ending September 13th, compared to the previous week's 292,000.Separately data will show existing home sales for August fell 2.6% compared to the previous month's uptick of 6.5%.The Conference Board's index of US leading economic indicators is tipped to gain 0.6% in August from July's 0.6% jump to 96.In the UK, a report on retail sales is forecast to show a 3.2% year-on-year increase in August, up slightly from the previous month's 3.1% jump. Turning to the earnings session early on, ASOS, Booker Group, United Utilities Group will release trading updates.Ahead of results from online retailer ASOS, Barclays increased its fiscal year 2014 UK sales growth estimate to 16% from 9% and rose outer years by two percentage points as the "price investments have delivered better than expected results". "Subsequently, we raise our price target for ASOS from £45 to £56," Barclays said in a note to investors in early September. Thursday September 19thINTERIMSGlobal Market Group Ltd (DI), Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.(DI), IG Seismic Services GDR (Reg S), IQE, Mission Marketing Group, Networkers International, Premier FarnellINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEFirst Quantum Minerals Ltd.INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Payments (US) (13:30)Bloomberg Consumer Confidence (US) (14:45)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)Current Account (US) (13:30)Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)Leading Indicators (US) (15:00)Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (15:00)FINALSSwallowfield, Wilmington GroupEGMSMacau Property Opportunities Fund Ltd., Telekomunikacja Polska S.A GDR (Reg S)AGMSAccsys Technologies, Best of the Best, Diageo, Northgate, Picton Property Income Ltd, Puma High Income VCTTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSASOS, Booker Group, United Utilities GroupUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSCBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)Internet Retail Sales (09:30)Retail Sales (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEJPMorgan Brazil Inv Trust , Naibu Global International Company, red24RD