Friday preview: US non-farm payrolls, Euro area CPI in focus

Investors' attention at the end of the week would be squarely on the latest monthly US non-farm payrolls figures and jobs market data.

Economists were anticipating around 200,000 new hires, although strong reports for weekly jobless claims and private sector payrolls, the latter from consultancy ADP, during the previous session had led some to bump up their forecasts.

Worth noting, the strength in those other jobs data were likely due, at least in part, to strong demand linked to the Christmas holidays.

Among the economists revising up their projections was Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, who lifted his forecast from 250,000 tp 275,000.

Shepherdson further pointed out how the latest Homebase survey data - making some assumptions for the seasonal adjustment factors - pointed to a 400,000 person increase in non-farm payrolls.

The Department of Labor was to release its employment report at 1330 GMT.

As an aside, despite sharp selling on Thursday, euro/dollar had come withing a whisker of giving off a potentially powerful buying signal had its 50-day moving average broken the 200-day average to the upside.

Also of considerable importance for financial markets would be the Institute of Supply Management's closely-followed US services sector Purchasing Managers' Index for December at 1500 GMT.

Across the Channel meanwhile, at 1000 GMT Eurostat was scheduled to publish a preliminary estimate for euro area consumer prices during the month of December.

Economists were anticipating a decline in the headline rate of CPI from 10.1% in November to around 9.0% for December.

Nonetheless, core CPI was ticking higher.

At 0930 GMT meanwhile, S&P Global would release its construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of December.

Also due out were factory orders figures for Germany in November, at 0700 GMT, and for euro area retail sales and industrial confidence in November and December, respectively.

Friday 06 January

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

British Land Company, Hill and Smith, JD Sports Fashion, Pets at Home Group , RS Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Real Trust Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

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

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Services Sentiment (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

AGMS

Gunsynd

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (07:00)

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Lok'n Store Group, Orchard Funding Group , Town Centre Securities