There is very little expected in terms of corporate news flow on Wednesday, leaving the field clear for the CBI Distributive Trades Survey.
Last month, the survey reported a pick-up in retail sales following a dip in October, but the report also highlighted the strongest growth in average selling price in over 26 years, highlighting the march of inflation.
Official November data recently from the Office for National Statistics showed that ‘Black Friday’ helped to propel retail sales 1.6% higher from a year earlier, with a particular uplift in sales of electrical household appliances.
However, analysts said that Black Friday had distorted sales and retailers still face challenging conditions, so the early signs from the CBI report for the key pre-Christmas December period will be closely eyed.
The annual general meeting of aircraft leasing company Avation is likely to be an upbeat affair, after a year in which the company has successfully freshened up its fleet.
On Monday, the company announced it had acquired and delivered into service a new Boeing 777-300ER commercial passenger aircraft.
It’s the first twin-aisle aircraft it has delivered and according to executive chairman Jeff Chatfield the 777 is “the marquee airplane in its class”.
Significant announcements expected
AGMs: Avation PLC (LON:AVAP). Creo Medical Group PLC (LON:CREO), Green Dragon Gas Limited (LON:GDG), Webis Holdings PLC (LON:WEB)
Economic data: CBI distributive trades survey; US existing home sales