Friday preview: China data, UK retail sales in focus

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus at the end of the week will shift to the People's Republic of China. Overnight, the country's National Bureau of Statistics will release readings for gross domestic product growth during the fourth quarter, together with readings on fixed asset investment, industrial production and retail sales.

They will be followed at 0700 BST by a reading on UK retail sales for the month of December.

In the States, at 1330 BST the Department of Commerce will release figures for US housing starts and industrial production at 1330 BST and 1415 BST, respectively.

Friday 17 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Babcock International Group, Celebrus Technologies, Halfords Group, MS International, ProVen Growth & Income VCT, ProVen VCT, Speedy Hire, Vertu Motors

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Current Account (EU) (09:00)

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

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

GMS

Smithson Investment Trust

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Amati AIM Vct

AGMS

Catalyst Media Group, The Character Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Coral Products, Northamber