Thursday preview: China PMI, Fed speakers

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will shift back towards Asia, where China's National Bureau of Statistics will publish the results of a closely-followed survey of manufacturing sector conditions in the country.

Activity is expected to have edged higher in September from the month before with the headline Purchasing Managers' Index seen rising from 50.1 to 50.2.

Barclays Research on the other hand anticipates a dip to 50.0 points, the threshold that separates an expansion in the sector from a contraction.

While such a decline would be but marginal, over just the past few days some economists had taken an axe to their 2022 GDP growth projections for China on account of the potential impact of a restructuring of real estate group Evergrande.

In the US, investors will continue to be on Fed watch, with at least three top central bank officials scheduled to make public remarks.

On home shores, the Office for National Statistics is expected to confirm that GDP expanded at a quarter-on-quarter pace of 4.8% over the three months to June.

Across the Channel meanwhile, all eyes will be on German unemployment figures for November and preliminary estimates for German and Italian consumer prices in September.

Thursday 30 September

INTERIMS

Angle, Avacta Group, BION NPV, Ceres Power Holdings, Jade Road Investments Limited NPV (DI), London Security, MyCelx Technologies Corporation (DI), OptiBiotix Health, Rockhopper Exploration, Synairgen

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Centamin (DI), Digital 9 Infrastructure NPV, Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Henry Boot Prf, HSBC Holdings, Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference 1, Mondi, Northern Electricity Prf, Polymetal International, S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Tate & Lyle 6.5% Cum. Prf. £1, Triple Point Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Company

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

AVI Japan Opportunity Trust , Central Asia Metals, Christie Group, Fevertree Drinks, Fintel, Frenkel Topping Group, Hays, Ingenta, JPMorgan Russian Securities, JTC, Oxford Technology 3 VCT, Personal Group Holdings, Rightmove, Smith & Nephew, Strix Group , STV Group, TP Icap Group , Travis Perkins, Wynnstay Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

HICL Infrastructure , Honeycomb Investment Trust, NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red, Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Raven Property Group Limited Cum Red Pref, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited, UIL Limited (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Alpha Real Trust Ltd., British American Tobacco, NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited Red Ord Shs NPV £, Scottish Inv Trust, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)

Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)

GMS

Augean, Bigblu Broadband , BioPharma Credit , Genedrive , San Leon Energy (CDI)

FINALS

Avation, Lekoil Ltd (DI)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Ltd

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT , Hays, Kings Arms Yard VCT, Travis Perkins

EGMS

PJSC Tatneft ADS

AGMS

ActiveOps, Altitude Group, Anglesey Mining, Argo Group Ltd., BMO Managed Portfolio Trust Grwth Shs, BMO Managed Portfolio Trust Inc Shs, Chill Brands Group, DCD Media, Diageo, Insig AI, Kibo Energy (CDI), Merit Group, NWF Group, Ormonde Mining (CDI), Pennpetro Energy , PHSC, Sosandar, Supreme , TheWorks.Co.Uk, Trafalgar Property Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Account (07:00)

Gross Domestic Product (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Accrol Group Holdings, Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, Gresham House Strategic

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barratt Developments, FRP Advisory Group , Hansard Global, Heavitree Brewery 11 1/2% Cum Prf , Kainos Group , Latham (James) 8% Cumulative Preference 1, Mattioli Woods, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, PHSC