Friday preview: Global factory and services PMIs, Airtel Africa in the spotlight

The focus in financial markets at the end of the week will be on a raft of preliminary readings for manufacturing and services sector activity surveys out of the euro area, UK and US for the month of October.

A modest slowdown in activity is anticipated across the Channel while in the US both sectors are expected to have grown at roughly the same clip as in September.

The UK factory Purchasing Managers' Index however is expected to decline from a reading of 57.1 to 55.0, while that for services is seen slipping from 55.4 to 54.7.

Also due out on home shores are readings for retail sales in September and consumer confidence in October.

Barclays Research anticipates a big drop in GfK's consumer confidence index from -13.0 to -20.0 due to the "barrage of headwinds and negative headlines facing households".

Somewhat ironically, retail sales may have benefitted heightened fuel consumption during the last week of the month.

Barclays also said that the gauges for employment contained in the two PMIs would be of "particular interest [...] given that they will reflect the first month post-furlough".

In Asia, the Bank of Japan is due to release a reading on consumer prices excluding perishables in September.

Further afield, rate-setters in Moscow are due to meet to decide on interest rates.

Consensus is for a 25 basis point hike in the one-week auction rate to 7.0% by Bank of Russia.

For Airtel Africa's first half, UBS analyst John Kim has penciled in revenues of approximately $2.3bn, putting him about 2% ahead of consensus.

Earnings before interest and taxes meanwhile were seen coming in at about $1.07bn for earnings per share of 6.3 US cents.

In particular, the analyst said that clients should be looking for continued voice and data growth in all three regions, although subscriber numbers in Nigeria were likely to disappoint due to national ID registration.

At present, markets were pricing in full-year EPS of 12 US cents, together with a dividend per share of 5 US cents.

He also pointed out that EPS could be "a bit" back-end loaded.

Friday 13 August

INTERIMS

Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S), Thungela Resources Limited NPV (DI)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

New Century AIM VCT 2, Safestore Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited Red Ord Shs NPV £, Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (13:30)

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

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

CML Microsystems, Octopus AIM VCT

AGMS

iEnergizer Ltd., System1 Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cake Box Holdings, Circle Property , Elixirr International , Heath (Samuel) & Sons, Next Fifteen Communications, Octopus AIM VCT, Stenprop Limited