Friday preview: Ukraine conflict, US jobs report in the spotlight

Investors will continue to carefully monitor the news-flow out of Ukraine, especially the latest news around an attack against Europe's largest nuclear reactor.

Against that backdrop, the US Department of Labor will release non-farm payroll data for the month of February that will show a further tightening in labour market conditions.

Consensus is for a 400,000 person increase in hiring during the month.

On home shores meanwhile, the only fresh data due out will be figures for new car registrations in February and IHS Markit's construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index referencing that same month.

Across the Channel, the spotlight will be on German retail sales figures for January.

On the corporate side of things and for Hammerson's full-year results, UBS analyst Charles Boissier is forecasting a 167% jump in earnings per share on EPRA basis of 1.9p.

He also expects discussion to centre on the options available to the property developer in order to further deleverage amid challenging conditions in the sector due to structural headwinds.

Friday 04 March

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

DWF Group , IG Group Holdings, K3 Capital Group , NCC Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

ICG Enterprise Trust, JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Essentra, FBD Holdings (CDI), Hammerson, Morgan Advanced Materials

EGMS

Challenger Energy Group, Riverstone Energy Limited

AGMS

Asia Strategic Holdings Limited NPV (DI), JPMorgan Russian Securities

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Paragon Banking Group, Renew Holdings, Titon Holdings

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CareTech Holding