Week ahead: Market volumes set to drop in quiet festive trading

(Sharecast News) - With traders away from their desks for the Christmas festivities, financial markets will likely see reduced volumes in the shortened trading week, with very little in the way of economic data and corporate results to move stocks either way. Equity markets across the US, Europe and Asia will be closed on 25 December for Christmas Day, with the exception - among major markets - of Tokyo's Nikkei 225 and China's Shanghai Composite.

Most markets will only be closed for just one day and reopen for the rest of the week, but London's FTSE 100 will remain shut for the Boxing Day public holiday on 26 December, and will also close early at 1230 GMT on 29 December.

For more information, TradingHours.com has a handy market status page to see which markets are currently open.

According to Russell Investments, equity markets across the globe usually trade at just 45% to 70% of normal volumes between Christmas and New Year's Day, and tend not to return to normal volumes until two to five days into January.

Aside from Monday, economic data will be released as usual during the rest of next week, though no major stats are due out.

The only economic indicators worth keeping an eye out for will be the US housing price index on Tuesday, Japanese retail trade data on Wednesday, US pending home sales and jobless claims on Thursday, and the Chicago purchasing managers' index on Friday.

Monday December 25

No results scheduled

Tuesday December 26

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

House Price Index (US) (14:00)

Wednesday December 27

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

General Electric Co (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

GMS

Bristol & West 'A', Cloudified Holdings Limited NPV (DI), Microsaic Systems

AGMS

Tremor International LTD (DI)

Thursday December 28

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BT Group, Jet2, JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, Thames Ventures Vct 1, The Global Smaller Companies Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Duke Royalty Limited, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

GMS

BioPharma Credit

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

SLF Realisation Fund Limited C Shs NPV, SLF Realisation Fund Limited NPV

AGMS

ADVFN, Altona Rare Earths, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. GDR, Global Petroleum Ltd., Tertre Rouge Assets

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , BP 8% Cum 1st Prf, BP 9% 2nd Prf, Cerillion , Focusrite, Grainger, Lowland Investment Co, Netcall, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, Ultimate Products

Friday December 29

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Livermore Investments Group Ltd., Strix Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited , Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Energean , HICL Infrastructure , NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Pollen Street, Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, RM Infrastructure Income, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

GMS

Barkby Group , Lansdowne Oil & Gas

AGMS

Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas NPV (DI), Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas NPV (DI), Genedrive , Goldplat, Online Blockchain, Secure Property Development & Investment (DI), SkinBioTherapeutics , SkinBioTherapeutics , Tetragon Financial Group Limited, Zambeef Products

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

DFS Furniture, Natwest Group 11% Cum Non-Red Prf Gbp1 , Natwest Group 5.5% Cum Non-Red Prf Gbp1