Attention will be focused at 7.00am on the release of the definitive feasibility study for Sirius Minerals PLC's (LON:SXX) potash project in North Yorkshire.
The company is on record as saying it is confident that the final definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the proposed York Potash mine will confirm a world class project that will be ‘best in class’ in many aspects.
Sirius's boss, Chris Faser, will be popping into the Proactive studios to talk about the project and the video should be on the web site tomorrow morning.
After the excitement of the chancellor's budget speech, economists will be switching their attention to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee's policy decision on interest rates.
“Weakness in recent activity surveys suggests the MPC will discuss the merits of cutting rates, but sterling’s fall, and rises in oil prices and unit wage costs, point to a higher inflation outlook,” according to Pantheon Macro.
The expectation is that the committee will vote overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining the status quo.
Significant announcements expected
Finals: Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LON:GKP), Megafon (PJSC) (LON:MFON), Premier Farnell PLC (LON:PFL), Quarto Group (The) Inc (LON:QRT), SOCO International PLC (LON:SIA)
Interims: Vernalis plc (LON:VER)
The following widely-held stocks are trading ex-dividend on Thursday: Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Randgold Resources, British American Tobacco, Alliance Trust, Hammerson
Economic: UK – Bank of England (BoE) Asset purchase facility, Bank of England monetary policy summary, BoE monetary policy committee's bank rate votes; EU – Consumer prices; US – Current account, JOLTS job openings, Philly Fed manufacturing index, Unemployment claims.