Thursday preview: ECB rate meeting, Fed's Powell in focus

Financial markets' attention on Thursday will shift to the European Central Bank and the results of the latest governing council policy meeting.

Consensus is that the GC will decide on a 75 basis point interest rate hike that will take the ECB's main refinancing rate from 0.50% to 1.25%.

In parallel, its deposit rate is expected to rise by the same amount to 0.75% with Barclays Research anticipating that it will reach 1.50% by year end.

Central bank policy will also be at the forefront of investors' minds on the other side of the Pond.

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to take to the podium at 1410 BST at an event hosted by the Cato Institute in Washington D.C..

As occurs on every Thursday, in the background traders will also be keeping a close eye on the latest weekly unemployment claims that are due out at 1330 BST.

On home shores, overnight the Recruitment and Employment Confederation will release its permanent staff placements and salary indices for August.

Also due out just past midnight is the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors house price balance for last month.

Further afield, in Asia, rate-setters in Malaysia will meet to decide on policy.

Economists are anticipating a 25 basis point hike in the overnight rate to 2.5%.

Thursday 01 September

INTERIMS

Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Camellia, Eurocell , Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI), PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Wentworth Resources NPV

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Coventry 12 1/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Aferian, Antofagasta, Apax Global Alpha Limited , Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Capital Limited (DI), Centamin (DI), Clarkson, Endeavour Mining, General Accident (Prf), Genuit Group, Henry Boot Prf, Hochschild Mining, InterContinental Hotels Group, International Personal Finance, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference 1, Pagegroup, Quilter, Ramsdens Holdings , Rathbones Group, Robert Walters, S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Savills, Tclarke

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JpMorgan China Growth & Income , JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Unilever

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Regional REIT Limited, RM Infrastructure Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Construction Spending (US) (15:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55)

PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Omega Diagnostics Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Me Group International

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Pagegroup

AGMS

Carclo, Jet2, Jlen Environmental Assets Group Limited NPV, Picton Property Income Ltd, Softline Holding GDR (REG S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Manufacturing (09:30)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), Inspects Group , Knights Group Holdings , Miton UK Microcap Trust, ProCook Group, Redde Northgate, Solid State, Supreme