Friday preview: US jobs report, ECB forecasters survey in the spotlight

The financial market spotlight would be firmly on the US non-farm payrolls report at the end of the week.

Consensus was for a 175,000 jump in hiring in April following the previous month's increase of 236,000, alongside a 0.3% month-on-month rise in average hourly earnings.

Analysts were keen to know to what degree - or not - recent stresses in the banking sector might have accelerated the recent moderation in hiring.

The possibility existed that Friday's jobs report might prove key in shaping the near-term outlook for interest rates in the US and perhaps also when peering much further out.

Speeches from St.Louis Fed chief, James Bullard, and Fed Governor Lisa Cook were both scheduled for 1800 BST.

Across the Channel meanwhile, at 0900 BST the European Central Bank was due to publish the results of its latest survey of professional forecasters.

In parallel, Eurostat would report on euro area retail sales in March.

At 0930 BST, S&P Global CIPS would release its construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index for April.

Friday 05 May

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Begbies Traynor Group, Tracsis

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

CT UK High Income Trust, CT UK High Income Trust B , TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

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

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI)

AGMS

Holders Technology, InterContinental Hotels Group, Man Group, Rightmove, UK Oil & Gas

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

InterContinental Hotels Group, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red), Breedon Group , Glanbia (CDI), Hikma Pharmaceuticals, International Personal Finance, Maven Income and Growth VCT 5, Mobius Investment Trust , Murray International Trust, Pearson, Persimmon, Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), Synectics

Q1

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI)