Friday preview: Focus on US jobs report

All eyes are on today's US non-farm payrolls reports.

Despite recent more dovish remarks from policy-makers at the US central bank, the monthly US jobs report continues to be the main release that markets watch for each month.

Consensus expectations are calling for a reading of 183,00 new jobs in July, following a initial estimate of 222,000 for June, alongside a 0.3% month-on-moth increase in average hourly earnings.

In comparison to a year-ago, earnings are seen higher by 2.4%, down from 2.5% in the prior month.

Following recent downwards revisions to historical data for personal savings, markets may show especial sensitivity to any miss on the earnings front.

Friday August 04

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Autins Group, CC Japan Income & Growth Trust, Chrysalis VCT, Frenkel Topping Group, Game Digital, Heavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
British Land Company, F & C UK High Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)
Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)
Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)
Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

INTERIMS
FBD Holdings, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate , Merlin Entertainments , Royal Bank of Scotland Group, RPS Group

Q2
Royal Bank of Scotland Group

ANNUAL REPORT
Oneview Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Chrysalis VCT, F & C UK High Income Trust , NewRiver REIT

AGMS
APQ Global Limited, Bilby, Bluerock Diamonds, Obtala Limited

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
S&U

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aquila Services Group, Aveva Group, B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Bonmarche Holdings, Brown (N.) Group, Burberry Group, Caffyns, Intermediate Capital Group, Monks Inv Trust, Next Fifteen Communications, Octopus AIM VCT, TalkTalk Telecom Group , ULS Technology , United Utilities Group, Vodafone Group, Wincanton