UK retail sales data from the ONS is due, following some pretty poor numbers in the past two readings: down 1.7% in August and down 1.4% in September both on a month-on-month basis.
"With the new energy price cap kicking in at the beginning of October it’s not hard to see that consumers have been reining back spending due to uncertainty over the lead up to October, as well as the farce that passes for our political institutions," said Michael Hewson, market analyst at CMC Markets.
He added: "With consumer confidence already at or close to record lows, it’s likely that consumers, if they do have money to spend, are probably holding back ahead of the end of the year and the Christmas period."
Significant announcements on Friday
Interims: Liontrust Asset Management (LSE:LIO) PLC
AGMs: MJ Gleeson (LSE:GLE) PLC, Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM, AIM:SVML)
Economic announcements: Retail Sales (UK)