Friday preview: UK, US consumer, Alphabet in focus

Investor focus at the end of the week will continue to be on all things concerning geopolitics.

In particular, reports indicated that Beijing was studying potentially lifting its 125% tariffs on imports of some US goods.

Also overnight it was reported that consultancy GfK's consumer confidence index fell by four points to -23 in April (consensus: -21).

Against that backdrop, at 0600 GMT ONS would report UK retail sales figures for the month of March.

The consumer would also be in focus Stateside, with the University of Michigan due to release a final reading on consumer confidence covering the month of April.

On the corporate side of things, investors will be digesting the latest quarterly results out of tech giant Alphabet.

In a note sent to clients ahead of the results, City analyst Michael Hewson said that the share price drop since early February may have been in response to the company's announcement that it would invest $75bn on artificial intelligence.

Of that amount, $16-18bn was to be spent over the first three months of 2025.

"Will this be money well spent when you have the likes of DeepSeek claiming AI success on a fraction of the cost?," Hewson asked.

Earnings per share for Q1 were pegged to come in at $2.02.

Friday 25 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust, Northamber, Redcentric, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Patria Private Equity Trust, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)

EGMS

China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd GDR (Reg S)