Friday preview: Quiet day expected

Company news is likely to be thin on the ground on Friday morning with no blue-chip companies in London scheduled to report earnings or quarterly updates.

Nevertheless, results and trading statements from a number of small caps are due out, including Pursuit Dynamics, Plant Impact and i-design.

In the absence of any results from heavyweight stocks, investors' focus will undoubtedly remain on the US 'fiscal cliff' as markets remain sensitive to 'to-ing and fro-ing' from politicians Stateside.

MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

House Speaker John Boehner dampened sentiment on Thursday saying that the White House is not serious about reaching a deal.

"Unfortunately, the White House is so unserious about cutting spending that it appears willing to slow-walk our economy right up to - and over - the fiscal cliff," Boehner said.

Markets will also be keeping an eye on inflation data in both the Eurozone and the US tomorrow.

The Eurozone core consumer price index (CPI) is expected to stay unchanged in November at an annual increase of 1.5%. Meanwhile, the US core CPI is forecast to remain at 2.0%.

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Braemar Shipping Services, Carphone Warehouse Group, Charles Stanley Group, Clean Energy Brazil, Edge Performance VCT 'C' Shares, Intermediate Capital Group, Printing.com, SABMiller, Synergy Health, TalkTalk Telecom Group , Wynnstay Properties, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Young & Co's Brewery (Non-Voting)

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Anglogold Ashanti Ltd., Carnival, Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (EU) (10:00)

New Car Registrations (EU) (10:00)

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

AGMS

CVS Group, Firestone Diamonds, Northern Venture Trust, Pantheon Resources, Punch Taverns, Quadrise Fuels International, Reconstruction Capital II Ltd., Spitfire Oil Ltd. (DI), World Careers Network

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Air Partner, Avingtrans, Downing Absolute Income VCT 1, Downing Absolute Income VCT 1 'C' Shares , Edinburgh Dragon Trust, Keystone Inv Trust, Plexus Holdings, Tristel, Utilitywise

BC