Thursday preview: UK GDP, US Treasury auction in the spotlight

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus on Thursday will be on the latest UK economic growth figures. At 0600 BST the Office for National Statistics is expected to announce that gross domestic product dipped at a month-on-month pace of 0.1% following two consecutive monthly increases of 0.5% and 0.2% in February and March, respectively.

"The challenge now is for recent momentum to be maintained in a month that saw multiple tax increases kick in as well as a number of changes in tax thresholds and increases in national insurance contributions on the part of employers," said City analyst Michael Hewson.

"Some decent wage growth is helping to offset some of the initial impact of these; however, it is also becoming clear that some increases in taxes have managed to reduce the tax take, prompting concerns that more tax increases could well be coming."

Across the Pond meanwhile, the spotlight will be on the results of a US Treasury auction of 30-year debt.

Also due out in the US are producer price data for the month of May.

In the euro area, a bevy of ECB officials are scheduled to take to the podium, including vice-president, Luis de Guindos, at noon.

Thursday 12 June

INTERIMS

Benchmark Holdings , IDOX

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Impax Asset Management Group, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, Orchard Funding Group , REA Holdings 9% Cum. Prf. #1, Tharisa (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Brunner Inv Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Current Account (GER) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Halma, Mind Gym, Motorpoint Group, Norcros, PayPoint

ANNUAL REPORT

Biotech Growth Trust (The), North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Playtech

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Helios Underwriting, Orchard Funding Group

AGMS

Christie Group, Concurrent Technologies, Finseta, Genflow Biosciences , MPAC Group, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Pollen Street Group Limited, Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd, Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd, Trufin

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tesco

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

Index of Services (07:00)

Industrial Production (07:00)

Manufacturing Production (07:00)

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Artemis UK Future Leaders, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Winking Studios Limited (DI)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

3i Infrastructure, C&C Group (CDI), Christie Group, Elecosoft Public Limited Company, Foresight VCT, Forterra, Helios Underwriting, Intermediate Capital Group, Investec Non-Red Non-Cum Non-Part Prf Shs, JD Sports Fashion, JPMorgan US Smaller Co. Inv Tst, Judges Scientific, Keystone Law Group , Land Securities Group, London Security, Pacific Assets Trust, Palace Capital , Pharos Energy , Restore, RS Group, Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust, Spectra Systems Corporation, Warpaint London , Worldwide Healthcare Trust, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Young & Co's Brewery Non VTG