Week ahead: Economic data, central banks and retailers in focus

3rd Jan 2014 12:00

Activity on financial markets is expected to ramp up significantly next week as trading returns to normal following a relatively quiet festive season in terms of corporate news and economic data. "The first week of each month is typically the busiest", according to Market Analyst Craig Erlam from Alpari. "However, given the shortened week driven by new year bank holidays, the majority of [data] will have to wait until next week," he said.Next week will see the release of several key economic figures from across the globe, including services, trade, inflation and new loan figures in China.Eurozone consumer price number due out on Tuesday will be in focus ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB) policy decision on Thursday. Data is expected to show that the annual rate of inflation in December was unchanged from 0.9% in November, when it had picked up from a four-year low of 0.7% in October.However, analysts at Danske Bank said they expect a "fairly sharp fall to a new low of just 0.6%". This, they said, would put additional pressure on the ECB to ease monetary policy further: "In our view, it will probably cave, although we do not expect this to happen at the coming week's rate-setting meeting."The consensus of analysts predict that the ECB will keep its benchmark interest rate at 0.25% for a second month following its surprise rate cut from 0.5% in November. The Bank of England, meanwhile, is expected to hold its Bank Rate steady at 0.5% and its asset purchase programme unchanged at £375bn when it also convenes on Thursday.Over in the States, there will be a host of data out next week to keep investors busy, but none more significant that the employment report on Friday which could determine the Federal Reserve's next move following its unprecedented taper of stimulus last month.US non-farm payrolls are expected to have increased by 193,000 in December, compared with the 203,000 rise in November.Corporate announcements should also pick up next week with trading updates from a number of UK retail heavyweights likely to be closely watched given how important the festive selling season is for the industry.Following on from strong Christmas updates from the likes of Next, John Lewis and House of Fraser - Debenhams being the exception after its profit warning - investors will be hoping that Topps Tiles, Dunelm, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, Tesco can follow suit with decent figures.Monday January 06INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATECello Group, London Stock Exchange Group, Rolls-Royce HoldingsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSFactory Orders (US) (15:00)Goods Orders (US) (15:00)ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)ISM Services (US) (15:00)PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)PMI Services (EU) (09:00)PMI Services (GER) (08:55)GMSGW Pharmaceuticals, Proxama IMSSCaledonia InvestmentsSPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBritish Empire Securities & General TrustEGMSAcorn Income Fund LdAGMSCraven House CapitalUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSOfficial Reserves (09:30)PMI Composite (09:30)PMI Services (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBritish Empire Securities & General Trust, Inland Homes, Town Centre SecuritiesTuesday January 07INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEHill & Smith Holdings, Management Consulting Group, Sepura, TR Property Inv TrustINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (US) (13:30)Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)International Reserves (EU) (11:00)PMI Construction (GER) (08:55)Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)GMSKazakhmysIMSSTopps TilesTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSDunelm GroupUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSNew Car Registrations (09:30)Wednesday January 08INTERIMSTungsten CorporationINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE3i Group, De La Rue, Phoenix IT GroupINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATEAberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Dairy Crest Group, Latham (James), Monks Inv Trust, NewRiver Retail Ltd. (Reg S), Pinewood Shepperton, Solid State, Speedy Hire, Workspace GroupQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEAssura Group Ltd., British Land Co, Investors Capital Trust 'A' Shares, Investors Capital Trust Units, Verizon CommunicationsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (GER) (07:00)Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)Current Account (GER) (07:00)Factory Orders (GER) (11:00)FOMC Interest Rate Minutes (US) (19:00)MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)Retail Price Index (GER) (07:00)Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)GMSParagon DiamondsFINALSIDOXANNUAL REPORTSWP GroupIMSSDomino's Pizza GroupSPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE3i GroupSPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEEuropean Investment TrustTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSGalliford Try, Robert Walters, Sainsbury (J)UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBRC Shop Price Index (00:01)FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATECharacter Group, Conygar Investment Company, DotDigital Group, Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust, European Investment Trust, ITE Group, Lowland Investment Co, Majedie Investments, Next Fifteen Communications, Octopus VCT 3, Octopus VCT 4, Paragon Group Of Companies, Smiths News, Spirit Pub Company, Standard Life European Private Equity Trust, WH SmithThursday January 09INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE3i Infrastructure, API Group, Big Yellow Group, Caledonia Investments, Mckay Securities, NorcrosQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATEAfrica Opportunity Fund Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline, Land Securities GroupINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBloomberg Consumer Confidence (US) (14:45)Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)Industrial Production (GER) (11:00)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)IMSSMarks & Spencer GroupTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSGVC Holdings, Hays, Laird, Rathbone Brothers, SIG, TescoUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (09:30)BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)Friday January 10INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAtkins (WS), Babcock International Group, Cable & Wireless Communications, Caffyns, Creston, Cropper (James), Daisy Group, Electrocomponents, Intermediate Capital Group, JD Sports Fashion, Marks & Spencer Group, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Northern 2 VCT, Northern 3 VCT, Northgate, Severn Trent, Shanks Group, Telford Homes, Whitbread, Worldwide Healthcare TrustQUARTERLY PAYMENT DATESchlumberger Ltd., XP Power Ltd. (DI)INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSGDP (2nd release) (EU) (10:00)Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)GMSSarossa CapitalAGMSQueenco Leisure International Ltd. GDR (Reg S), Unicorn AIM VCT TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSHilton Food Group, XP Power Ltd. (DI)UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBRC Sales Monitor (00:01)Industrial Production (09:30)Manufacturing Production (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAssociated British Foods, Debenhams, Netcall, Waterman GroupBC