Friday preview: UK trade deficit tipped to narrow

It is a thin day for scheduled corporate news so focus will be on economic events such as the release of the UK balnce of trade figures.

The visible trade deficit for April is tipped to narrow to £8.50bn from £8.56bn in April. The non-European Union deficit is expected to hold steady at £4.10bn.

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

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Baronsmead VCT, Baronsmead VCT 2, British Empire Securities & General Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Canaccord Financial Inc., Canadian General Investments Ltd., Carnival, Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (16:15)

Industrial Production (US) (16:15)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

Wholesale Price Index (GER) (07:00)

AGMS

African Mining & Exploration, Albion Development VCT, Albion Development VCT 'D' Shares, Biofutures International, Cupid, Hellenic Telecom Industries SA ADS

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (Trade Balance) (09:30)

UK Trade (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Carillion, Chime Communications, Computacenter, Derwent London, G4S, Gresham House, Neptune-Calculus Income & Growth VCT, Persimmon, Robert Walters, SDL, Ted Baker

Q1

OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works GDR (Reg S)

JH