Thursday preview: ECB, German factory orders in focus

All eyes on Thursday will be on the European Central Bank's policy meeting.

Rate-setters in Frankfurt are widely expected to announce a 25 basis point cut to interest rates.

But what really interests investors is what it may have to say regarding the outlook for monetary policy.

Also scheduled to be published are German factory orders figures for April, at 0600 BST.

Across the Atlantic in the US meanwhile a trio of economic reports are due out.

They include readings for weekly jobless claims, foreign trade and labour productivity and unit costs.

On home shores, at 0830 BST consultancy S&P Global will release its purchasing managers' index for the country's construction sector covering the month of May.

Thursday 06 June

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

AJ Bell, Antofagasta 5% Cum Prf, Arbuthnot Banking Group, Aviva 8 3/4% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, General Accident 'A', Henderson European Focus Trust, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, Renew Holdings, Smiths News , Topps Tiles

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Assura , BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust, Energean , RM Infrastructure Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Q3

Seraphim Space Investment Trust

FINALS

Mitie Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Steppe Cement Ltd

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Arbuthnot Banking Group, Billington Holdings, Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust Red

AGMS

Argo Blockchain, Camellia, Checkit, China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd GDR (Reg S), Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, EJF Investments Ltd NPV, Fevertree Drinks, Invesco Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Kavango Resources , Kore Potash, REA Holdings, S&U, Tan Delta Systems

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bodycote, Legal & General Group, Wickes Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Billington Holdings, Capital Gearing Trust, Computacenter, Edinburgh Inv Trust, Equals Group , FDM Group (Holdings), Gemfields Group Limited, Good Energy Group, Helios Underwriting, Informa, Johnson Matthey, Judges Scientific, Learning Technologies Group , Marshalls, Menhaden Resource Efficiency, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Microlise Group, National Grid, National World , NEWCASTLE 10 3/4% PERM INT BEARING SHS #1000, Pets at Home Group , Restore, Robinson, RTC Group, Sainsbury (J), Vodafone Group, WPP