The corporate and economic diary is not just seeing a Summer lull on Friday, but almost a complete full stop.
The only item on the agenda is an annual general meeting for System1 Group PLC (LON:SYS1), the behavioural marketing services group formerly known as Brainjuicer.
READ: System1 proposes special dividend of 26p
Its shareholders should be fairly happy after the AIM-listed group proposed a 26p special dividend when it reported a 25% jump in full-year pre-tax profits back in June.
Although System1 also revealed the departure of its chief operating officer, Alan Batchelor, and flagged up a slowish start to the current year, so investors will be seeking more clarity on recent trading.
After a busy week for UK data which saw UK inflation defy expectations for a rise, unexpectedly holding steady at 2.6%, while average earnings rose and the jobless rate declined, both beating forecasts, although retail sales data remained subdued, nothing is scheduled for release on Friday.
US consumer confidence eyed
And across the Atlantic, only the preliminary reading of the University of Michigan consumer confidence survey for August is due, with the final July reading having slightly beaten forecasts at 93.4, against estimates for 93.1, albeit a decline from readings of 95.1 in June and 97.2 in May.
So investors will mainly be focused on prospects for sunshine and clouds over the weekend in London – although it’ll be in Belfast where rain is forecast – and looking ahead to the final full week of trading in August which will actually see some blue chip earnings released - including from miners BHP Billiton PLC (LON:BLT), Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO), advertising giant WPP PLC (LON:WPP), and housebuilder Persimmon PLC (LON:PSN).
Significant events expected on Friday August 18:
AGMs: System1 Group PLC (LON:SYS1)
Economic data: University of Michigan preliminary consumer confidence reading for August