Thursday preview: ECB, Computacenter in the spotlight

All eyes on Thursday will be on the European Central Bank as it meets to decide on policy.

Economists at Barclays Research expect that the ECB will slow its emergency bond purchases under the PEPP programme from around €80bn per month to something nearer to €60-70bn.

However, in order to compensate for the impact that might have on financial markets, they also expected ECB president Christine Lagarde to adopt a 'dovish' tone.

But first out overnight will come readings on Chinese consumer and factory gate prices in August.

The year-on-year rate of growth for both is expected to be unchanged from the previous month, at 1.0% and 9.0%, respectively.

Stateside, the market spotlight will be on the latest weekly initial jobless claims figures.

Investors will also be keeping an eye on a speech from San Francisco Fed boss Mary Daly.

On home shores meanwhile, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation will publish its permanent staff placements and salaries indices for August.

They will come out alongside the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' house price balance for that same month.

For Computacenter's first half results, UBS analyst Michael Briest said investors' focus would be on guidance for the 2022's growth trajectory.

Consensus for 2022 at the time that the analyst's comments were published stood at £6.61bn for sales and £223.4m for the company's profit before tax.

Briest was also anticipating an update regarding the integration of Pivot and questions around management's intention to pursue further acquisitions in order to meet its goal of a compound annual rate of growth in earnings before interest and taxes over 2020-23 of 40%.

Thursday 09 September

INTERIMS

Burford Capital NPV (DI), Cairn Homes (CDI), Computacenter, Destiny Pharma , EMIS Group, Funding Circle Holdings , International Public Partnerships Ltd., Jadestone Energy, Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), Spire Healthcare Group, STV Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alpha Fx Group , Athelney Trust, Avast, BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI), Camellia, Chesnara, CRH (CDI), Croda International, Derwent London, Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Endeavour Mining, Gamesys Group, Globalworth Real Estate Investments Limited, Greggs, Hochschild Mining, Holders Technology, Kingspan Group (CDI), Melrose Industries, Polymetal International, Robinson, RPS Group, Stand.Ch.7te%pr, Standard Chartered 8 1/4% Non-Cum Irrd Pref, Triple Point Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Company , Wentworth Resources NPV, Zotefoams

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.NPV (CDI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Assura , Regional REIT Limited, XP Power Ltd. (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Current Account (GER) (07:00)

ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)

Gross Domestic Product (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

GMS

BMO Real Estate Investments Limited

FINALS

Genus, Genus, Go-Ahead Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Puma VCT 12 , South32 Limited (DI)

EGMS

Endeavour Mining, Tufton Oceanic Assets Limited NPV

AGMS

Aberdeen New India Investment Trust, Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ltd., Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ltd., FIH Group , Gail (India) Ltd GDR (Reg S), Gear4music (Holdings), Invesco Asia Trust, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Mothercare, Redcentric, Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltd, SDV 2025 ZDP, Speedy Hire, U And I Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

CMC Markets, Miton UK Microcap Trust

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Arcontech Group, DWF Group , Foresight Group Holdings Limited NPV, IG Design Group, Manolete Partners, National Westminster 9%pf, Oxford Instruments, South32 Limited (DI) , Totally