Thursday preview: Services PMIs, LSE Group in focus

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will continue to be on Ukraine.

In the background however, investors will be waiting on the results of a key survey of conditions in America's services sector during the month of February, courtesy of the Institute for Supply Management.

Services sector survey results in the euro area and UK (consensus: 60.8) for the previous month are also due out.

For LSE Group's second half numbers, UBS analyst Michael Werner has penciled-in a 3% year-on-year rise in revenues to £3.62bn.

Meanwhile, the market exchange operator's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation were seen rising 3% to reach £1.54bn, for earnings per share of 142.6p.

The latter was 5% ahead of the consensus.

The analyst expected investors' focus to be on LSE Group's topline growth over the last three months of 2021, especially in their Data&Analytics arm, which was their generator of recurring revenues.

Indeed, he believed that the firm's current valuation reflected market skepticism regarding its ability to generate 5.0-7.0% annual revenue growth, as per the company's own targets, and for that growth to be driven by recurring revenues.

Thursday 03 March

INTERIMS

Allergy Therapeutics, Avation, Darktrace , DotDigital Group, Galliford Try

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Ashmore Group, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Genus, Hargreaves Lansdown, Hays, MJ Gleeson , National Westminster 9%pf, Sylvania Platinum Ltd (DI), Wilmington

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, HICL Infrastructure , Honeycomb Investment Trust, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Regional REIT Limited, RM Infrastructure Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Admiral Group, Bank Pekao SA GDS (Reg S), Cairn Homes (CDI), Coats Group, CRH (CDI), Elementis, Empiric Student Property , Entain, Franchise Brands, Hunting, HUTCHMED (China) Limited, ITV, London Stock Exchange Group, Meggitt, Melrose Industries, Mondi, Pagegroup, Parity Group, Rentokil Initial, Schroders, Spire Healthcare Group, Synthomer, Taylor Wimpey, Vesuvius

AGMS

Chemring Group, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, Petro Matad Ltd., Zytronic

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (09:30)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Barclays, Bristol Water 'A' 8 3/4% Cum Irrd Prf, General Accident (Prf), Henry Boot Prf, John Menzies 9% Cumulative Preference 1, Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference 1, Northern Electricity Prf, Rights & Issues Investment Trust , S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Safestore Holdings, Scottish American Inv Company, Tharisa (DI), TOC Property Backed Lending Trust, Zytronic