(Sharecast News) - All eyes on Thursday will be on attempts to try and at least work out a ceasefire deal in the Ukraine conflict over the Orthodox Easter holiday, as well on restarting talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Against that backdrop, after the close of markets in London, US Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell, is due to take part on an IMF panel on the global economy.
In terms of data, the main release of the session will be the results of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's regional factory survey for April at 1500 GMT.
Across the Channel on the other hand, the session's main talking point will be a reading on euro area consumer prices for March and survey data for consumer confidence in April.
No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.
UK aerospace manufacturer Meggitt will be in the spotlight on the company side of things as it reports on its first quarter performance.
It will be doing so even as investors are waiting for the government's decision on whether to greenlight its takeover by US outfit Parker Hannifin, or not, not least due to national security considerations.
The aerospace and defence component manufacturer moved back into the black during the preceding year, but the company declined to offer guidance for the current year because it was under the provisions of the UK takeover code.
The transaction with Parker Hannifin was expected to complete during the third quarter.
Thursday 21 April
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Finsbury Food Group, Hansard Global, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Provident Financial, SCS Group
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
JpMorgan China Growth & Income , M Winkworth, Supermarket Income Reit
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)
FINALS
Bonhill Group, Churchill China, Churchill China, LBG Media , Safestyle UK , Serica Energy
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Rio Tinto
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Gemfields Group Limited
EGMS
Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares
AGMS
Alliance Trust, Honye Financial Services Limited (DI), Ibstock , Journeo , Journeo , Relx plc, Senior, STV Group
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
AJ Bell, BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), DP Poland, Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Meggitt, PensionBee Group , Relx plc, Rentokil Initial, SEGRO, XPS Pensions Group
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Micro Focus International, Rio Tinto
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Antofagasta, BAE Systems, Bodycote, Breedon Group , Cairn Homes (CDI), Essentra, Eurocell , FBD Holdings (CDI), Genuit Group, Gresham Technologies, Highcroft Investment, Hunting, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Jupiter Fund Management , Just Group, Legal & General Group, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Portmeirion Group, Rathbone Group, Robert Walters, RPS Group, Secure Trust Bank, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Tclarke , Uniphar (CDI), Vitec Group, Weir Group, Wickes Group
Q1
Antofagasta
