Friday preview: US non-farm payrolls, Berkeley Group Holdings in the spotlight

The focus in markets will be squarely on the US non-farm payrolls report for August.

Amid concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic and the knock-on effects that it is beginning to have on activity and employment, consensus is calling for a 1.518m rise in hiring.

Unemployment meanwhile is seen dipping further, from 10.2% to 9.9% and the year-on-year rate of growth for average hourly earnings from 4.8% to 4.5%.

Across the Channel meanwhile, investors will be looking out for a reading on German factory orders in July.

On home shores, figures on new car registrations in August are due out, together with IHS Markit's construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index.

Berkeley Group Holdings will be in the spotlight at the end of the week.

The luxury homebuilder is expected to deliver a trading update ahead of its AGM.

UBS's Gregor Kuglitsch expects the firm to say that sales have been recovering nicely since the lifting of Covid-19 lockdowns, thanks to both pent-up demand and the reduction in stamp duty.

Net cash is also expected to still be above £1bn despite its most recent dividend payment.

Kuglitsch also anticipates that Berkeley will stick to its previous guidance for financial year 2021 profits before tax of £500m, while his own estimate is at £505m.

Friday 04 September 04

INTERIMS

Eurocell

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Avon Rubber, Croma Security Solutions Group, Direct Line Insurance Group, FDM Group (Holdings), Mincon Group , Nichols, Phoenix Group Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Honeywell International Inc., ICG Enterprise Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Current Account (GER) (07:00)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

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

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

GMS

Allianz Technology Trust, Amino Technologies, One Media IP Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Direct Line Insurance Group, Kainos Group

AGMS

Bank Audi S.A.L. GDR (Repr 1'Com'Shr Lbp1650)(Reg S), Berkeley Group Holdings (The), IDE Group Holdings

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Cranswick, Iomart Group, Latham (James), Monks Inv Trust, Northern 2 VCT, Northern 3 VCT