(Sharecast News) - Financial markets' focus at the end of the week will revert to all things Brexit as the European Union announces whether or not it has accepted Parliament's request for another extension to the Brexit deadline to 31 January or only a shorter one.
Assuming the former is the case, despite reports that Paris is digging in its heels against such a possibility, markets will move to price-in Boris Johnson's chances of success at pushing for a general election on 12 December.
Labour has already indicated that they support such a move, but only once the possibility of a hard-Brexit has been taken off the table for good.
Against that backdrop, the IFO institute's closely-followed monthly business confidence index for Germany is set for release at 0900 BST, alongside a reading on consultancy GfK's German consumer confidence index for November.
To take note of, survey data published on Thursday had shown manufacturing sentiment in the euro area facing in October what analysts described as the fiercest headwinds since 2012, when the bloc was in the midst of the confidence crisis in periphery debt markets centred on Greece and Spain.
Stateside, at 1500 BST the University of Michigan will publish the final results of its consumer confidence survey for October.
No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.
From among the big corporate names that are set to update financial markets on Friday, the market spotlight will likely shine brightest on Barclays.
Deutsche Bank analyst, Benjamin Goy, is expecting the lender to post a 1.0% rise in profits before tax for its third quarter to reach £1.621bn, as credit impairments jump by roughly 97% to £501.0m.
The lender's net interest margin meanwhile is seen declining to 2.78% from 2.94% for the comparable year ago period and its Basel III Tier 1 common equity ratio to 13.0% from 13.2%.
Friday October 25
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Barr (A.G.), Bonhill Group, Centaur Media, Central Asia Metals, Equiniti Group , Hansteen Holdings, HGCapital Trust, John Laing Group , JPMorgan Russian Securities, JTC, Kaz Minerals , Kenmare Resources, Keystone Law Group , Keywords Studios, Luceco , Medica Group , Midwich Group, Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , Phoenix Spree Deutschland Limited Shs NPV , Puma VCT 10 , Smurfit Kappa Group, Strix Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
General Electric Co (CDI), Standard Life Private Equity Trust, Value and Income Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Centaur Media, Keystone Law Group , Vectura Group
EGMS
Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI)
AGMS
Trafalgar Property Group
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hastings Group Holdings , Vivo Energy , WPP
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Distributive Trades Surveys (11:00)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Consort Medical, Dart Group, Draper Esprit VCT, Eckoh, Fulcrum Utility Services Ltd. (DI), Kainos Group , Mattioli Woods