Thursday preview: Alphabet, Tesla, Global PMIs, ECB, Russia-Ukraine talks and trade in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors will have to navigate a raft of risk events on Thursday. Possibly foremost amongst those, due to their likely impact on investor sentiment, will be quarterly results due out from US technology heavyweights Alphabet and Tesla the night before.

Against that backdrop, shortly after the start of trading consultancy S&P Global will release the preliminary results of its purchasing managers' surveys for the UK and euro area.

The former will come out at 0830 BST and the latter at 0800 BST.

Policymakers at the European Central Bank meanwhile will announce their latest rate decision at 1215 BST.

There are also likely to be headlines out of Istanbul regarding the third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, although expectations are low.

Also of potentially key importance will be any developments regarding trade talks between the EU and US, although the timing, for better or for worse, is unknown.

The deadline for a deal however is not - the 1 August.

Thursday 24 July

FINALS

Iomart Group, IG Group Holdings, Metir, Severfield

INTERIMS

Centrica, Nokia OYJ, Primary Health Properties, Lloyds Banking Group, Howden Joinery Group, RELX plc, Reach

Q1

Wizz Air Holdings

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

AJ Bell, BT Group, Vodafone Group

AGMs

Halma, Challenger Energy Group, Firering Strategic Minerals (DI), Inspiration Healthcare Group, DP Poland, Discoverie Group, Aminex (CDI), Cmc Markets, Xtract Resources, Tatton Asset Management, Emmerson NPV, Pennon Group, Beowulf Mining, Tate & Lyle, Fidelity China Special Situations

GMs

Cobra Resources, Aptamer Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

SSE, Facilities by ADF, Pennon Group, Bloomsbury Publishing, Celebrus Technologies, Creightons, Telecom Plus, Elixirr International, Touchstar, QinetiQ Group, Calnex Solutions

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Fuller Smith & Turner, Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, Invesco Global Equity Income Trust, Bankers Inv Trust, Henderson Far East Income Ltd., Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, International Biotech Trust, Maven Income & Growth VCT, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited, Synectics, Maven Income and Growth VCT 5, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Limited Npv

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Tribal Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Thor Explorations Ltd (DI), M Winkworth, Supermarket Income Reit, Tufton Assets Limited Npv, City of London Inv Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Brunner Inv Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)