Thursday preview: Euro area factory PMIs, StanChart in focus

Investors' attention on Thursday will be on a raft of factory sector purchasing managers' surveys due out in the euro area.

They will be looking for signs that momentum is continuing to build in the anticipated rebound in economic activity anticipated by some during the back half of 2024.

Stateside meanwhile, investors will be a raft of secondary reports that will help to inform opinions regarding the economy.

They include consultancy Challenger's latest tally of job cut announcements, foreign trade numbers for March, quarterly labour productivity and unit labour cost data and weekly jobless claims figures.

StanChart will be among the names reporting to shareholders on Thursday, against a backdrop of rising government bond yields in the U.S..

However, expectations for fewer interest rate cuts in the U.S. might mean less loan growth at StanChart than envisaged in the lender-s guidance, said BS analyst Jason Napier in a research note sent to clients.

His mates are calling for a 1% quarter/on/quarter rise in net interest income to reach $2.41bn.

Underlying profit before tax meanwhile is seen jumping by 38% to about $1.46bn.

The lender-s common equity tier one ration on the other hand is seen declining by four tenths of a percentage point to 13.6%.

Thursday 02 May

INTERIMS

Smiths News

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

AB Dynamics, Carr's Group, Mobeus Income & Growth Vct, Seneca Growth Capital Vct B, Smart (J) & Co.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

British American Tobacco

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Greencoat Renewables (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

GMS

Ultimate Products

FINALS

NAHL Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alfa Financial Software Holdings

EGMS

AIB Group (CDI)

AGMS

AIB Group (CDI), Aviva, Ecora Resources, Enwell Energy, F&C Investment Trust, Glenveagh Properties (CDI), Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI), Hostelworld Group , Howden Joinery Group, ITV, Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), Melrose Industries, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Morgan Sindall Group, Personal Group Holdings, Reach, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Reckitt Benckiser Group, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), RIT Capital Partners, SIG, Ulster Bank Ireland Designated Activity Company 11.75% Sub Bds

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lancashire Holdings Limited, RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI), TI Fluid Systems, TI Fluid Systems

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Banco Santander S.A., CLS Holdings, Nichols, Schroders

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

4Imprint Group, Ashtead Technology Holdings, Coats Group, Dunedin Income Growth Inv Trust, Elementis, FBD Holdings (CDI), Genuit Group, Global Opportunities Trust, Henry Boot, Hiscox Limited (DI), Inchcape, Investec Investment Trust 3 1/2% Cumulative Preference Stock, IWG , LLoyds Banking Group 9.25% Non-Cum Irredeemable Pref Shares, LLoyds Banking Group 9.75% Non-Cum Irredeemable Pref Shares, Porvair, Relx plc, Robert Walters, Senior, Zotefoams

Q1

Shell , Standard Chartered