Friday preview: US-China data, SThree in focus

The focus will be on the US and China at the end of the week, but not because of their ongoing trade standoff.

In China, a raft of economic reports are due out, covering retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment, all covering the month of June.

Later in the session, Stateside, investors will be waiting on readings for retail sales and industrial production in May, followed by the preliminary reading on the University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for June.

SThree is among those corporate that are set to update financial markets at the end of the week.

Analyst Steve Woolf at Numis was anticipating that on a like-for-like basis, the staffing company would report a roughly 9.0% gain in net few growth over the second quarter, the same as over the prior three-month stretch, albeit down from the 13% jump observed during the same quarter one year ago.

Trading was mixed during the first quarter, with the UK impacted by Brexit uncertainty, although in Germany - SThree's most important market - net fee growth printed at 7% despite tough year-on-year comparatives, while in the US it came in at 17%.

"We do not expect a change in market conditions during the period. Overall, we believe SThree will report a solid performance, and a forward PE rating of 9x, represents a c.25% discount to its UK peers, and is supported by a c.5% dividend yield."

Friday June 14

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aeci 5 1/2% Prf, Avingtrans, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Cambria Automobiles, Lok'n Store Group, Majedie Investments, Sage Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Carnival, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Business Inventories (US) (15:00)

Capacity Utilisation (US) (14:15)

Industrial Production (US) (14:15)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

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

ANNUAL REPORT

SSE

AGMS

M. P. Evans Group, OJSC Rostelekom ADR (level I), Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom Neft ADR, Serabi Gold, Walker Greenbank

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

SThree

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Ascential, Burford Capital , CEIBA Investments Limited NPV, Downing Three VCT H Shs, Downing Three VCT J Shs, FDM Group (Holdings), Filta Group Holdings, G4S, K3 Business Technology Group, The Gym Group