Week ahead: House of Lords, Trump in focus
The coming was expected to be light in terms of data on both sides of the Pond, although the first debate on the Article 50 Brexit bill in the House of Lords, on Monday, did hold the potential to move markets.
In other UK data, and in parallel to the above, Rightmove would release its house price figures for the month of February and the Confederation of British Industry its respective surveys for total industrial orders and retail sales.
Stateside, the February manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index from IHS Markit also figured among the top market events on the calendar.
Nonetheless, what might yet turn out to be the main event of the holiday-shortened week was not to be found on any calendar, US President Donald Trump's announcement on fiscal stimulus and there was as of yet no fixed date for it.
US markets were to remain closed on 20 February in observance of Presidents Day.
Also on that Monday, European Council president Donald Tusk was scheduled to meet US vice-president Mike Pence.
The minutes of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on 31 January/1 February, on Wednesday, would also merit watching.
In Eurozone news, Tuesday would bring with it one of the highest-frequency indicators for the euro area, IHS Markit's manufacturing PMI for February.
Monday 20 February
INTERIMS
City of London Investment Group, Gemfields, Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI), Sareum Holdings
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
FINALS
BGEO Group, Hammerson
EGMS
RM2 International S.A. (DI)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bovis Homes Group
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Compass Group
Tuesday 21 February
INTERIMS
BHP Billiton, Galliford Try, Green Reit, Netcall, Vernalis plc
FINALS
Anglo American, HSBC Holdings, InterContinental Hotels Group, Lighthouse Group, Synectics, Vitec Group
ANNUAL REPORT
HSBC Holdings
AGMS
Blackrock North American Income Trust , Image Scan Holdings
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Safestore Holdings
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Sector Net Borrowing (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Titon Holdings
Wednesday 22 February
INTERIMS
Barratt Developments, Hays, Hotel Chocolat Group , Mcbride, PCI-PAL
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)
IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)
IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)
IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
FINALS
Capital & Counties Properties , Indivior, Lloyds Banking Group, Petrofac Ltd., Unite Group
ANNUAL REPORT
Lloyds Banking Group
AGMS
Bankers Inv Trust, Gooch & Housego
Thursday 23 February
INTERIMS
Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, Monitise, Wilmington
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Hayward Tyler Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Private Equity Fund Ltd. Sterling Part Shares, Alumasc Group, Ashley (Laura) Holding, Diageo, Hargreaves Services, Hollywood Bowl Group, Ideagen
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Merchants Trust
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Brunner Inv Trust, Carnival, Duet Real Estate Finance Ltd, General Electric Co, GlaxoSmithKline, Honeywell International Inc., NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (16:00)
GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)
House Price Index (US) (14:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Q4
Telefonica SA
FINALS
BAE Systems, Barclays, British American Tobacco, Glencore , Greencoat UK Wind, Howden Joinery Group, Intu Properties, Kaz Minerals , Macfarlane Group, Playtech, Rathbone Brothers, Relx plc, RSA Insurance Group, Telefonica SA
ANNUAL REPORT
Greencoat UK Wind
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Independent Inv Trust, Shoe Zone
EGMS
Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Reconstruction Capital II Ltd., Sirius Real Estate Ltd.
AGMS
Chrysalis VCT, Hollywood Bowl Group, OMG
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
easyJet, Hollywood Bowl Group, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, Lancashire Holdings Limited, Rio Tinto, Shoe Zone, Zegona Communications
Friday 24 February
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Ltd EURO, CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Ltd GBP, Downing One VCT , NCC Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
APQ Global Limited, Primary Health Properties, The SME Loan Fund
Q4
Royal Bank of Scotland Group
FINALS
Jupiter Fund Management , Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate , Pearson, Rightmove, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Standard Life, TBC Bank Group, William Hill
ANNUAL REPORT
Fusionex International
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Calculus VCT 'C' Shares, EIH Plc
EGMS
Bagir Group Ltd. (DI)
AGMS
APC Technology Group, IDOX
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Blue Capital Global Reinsurance Fund Ltd (DI), Hadrian's Wall Secured Investments, RWS Holdings, Urban&Civic