Friday preview: UK retail sales, Great Portland Estates in focus

(Sharecast News) - A report on monthly UK retail sales is the main report due out at the end of the week.



At 0700 GMT, the Office for National Statistics is expected to announce that retail sales grew at a month-on-month pace of 0.5% in October.

Also due out are public sector net borrowing figures for the same month.

Across the Channel meanwhile, the session may revolve around two speeches from European Central Bank boss, Christine Lagarde, at 0830 GMT and 1800 GMT, respectively.

Central bankers will also be in focus across the Pond with Fed governor Christopher Waller due to deliver a speech at 1720 GMT, followed by another from Fed vice-president, Richard Clarida, at 1215 GMT.

On the corporate side of things, Great Portland Estates is due to update investors on its half-year performance.

UBS's Osmaan Malik expects the property developer to report progress in getting the £38m of rents that were under negotiation signed.

He is also looking for updates on the four near-term schemes in its development pipeline, especially that for New City Court, as well as further discussions on "the ongoing theme around polarisation and demand for better office space, in which we are believers" and commentary around the company's flexible office provision.

Malik had penciled-in EPRA earnings per share of 5.8p for the half, against the 7.9p anticipated by the consensus, while the company's net tangible assets were pegged at 800.0p (consensus: 771.0p).

Friday 19 November

INTERIMS

Carclo, Great Portland Estates, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Wincanton

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Animalcare Group, CareTech Holding, Howden Joinery Group, Morgan Advanced Materials , Vistry Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Contour Global , JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.NPV (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Q3

SDX Energy Inc. (DI)

AGMS

Diurnal Group, eEnergy Group, KCR Residential Reit, Kier Group, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, One Heritage Group , Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI), TCS Group Holding GDR (Each Repr 1 A Shr) (Reg S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Dunelm Group, Smiths Group

Q1

Seraphim Space Investment Trust