Friday preview: Manufacturing PMIs in focus

Manufacturing sector activity growth in the US and the Eurozone is expected to accelerate in April, according to economists’ forecasts ahead of data on Friday.

Markit’s purchasing managers’ index on Eurozone manufacturing is expected to rise to 51.9 on April from 51.6 the previous month. A reading above 50 signals an expansion in the industry while a level below that suggests a contraction.

Eurozone services PMI is also due to be published with analysts pencilling in a reading of 53.3 this month, compared to 53.3 last month.

Later in the session, the US manufacturing PMI from Markit is anticipated to increase to 52.0 in April from 51.5 in March.

Further expansion in manufacturing activity would provide a boost to sentiment in the industry, which remains under pressure from tepid overseas markets and lower commodities prices.

As one of the earliest surveys available each month, the Markit indices oftenmoved markets noticeably as traders' moved to adjust their positions in reaction to the new data.

Friday 22 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Bioventix, Finsbury Food Group, Produce Investments, Smiths Group, Tracsis

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Markit German PMI ( 0830)

Markit Eurozone PMI (0900)

Markit US PMI (1445)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
JPMorgan Income & Capital Inv Trust

EGMS
Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S), JPMorgan Senior Secured Loan Fund Limited

AGMS
Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S), HSBC Holdings, JSC Halyk Bank GDR (Reg S), Komercni Banka A.S.GDR (Level 1), Molins, OAO Novatek GDR (Reg S), Premier African Minerals Ltd, SEGRO, SVG Capital

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Record