Thursday preview: US data, Melrose in focus

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will be on a barrage of US economic data, including the latest data for weekly jobless claims.

Those numbers will come the day before the monthly non-farm payrolls report for August, which may reveal a hit from the impact of the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Second quarter labour productivity and foreign trade data for July are also scheduled for release.

No major economic releases are due out in the UK.

Across the Channel, the main economic release during the session will be on euro area producer price in July.

Also on Thursday's economic calendar are reports on Swiss second quarter GDP, August CPI and retail sales in July.

Further afield, in Asia, the market spotlight will be on a reading for South Korean second quarter GDP.

For turnaround specialist Melrose's half-year results, UBS analyst Celine Fornaro has penciled-in an 8% drop in sales to £4.02bn.

Fornaro was 10% below the consensus for sales.

For the full-year, Fornaro was at £8.55bn for Melrose's revenues.

Earnings before interest and taxes on the other hand were seen surging by 239% to 190m.

Thursday 02 September

INTERIMS

Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI), Inspired, Wentworth Resources NPV

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aferian

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Antofagasta, Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Bristol Water 'A' 8 3/4% Cum Irrd Prf, Capital Limited (DI), Centamin (DI), Clarkson, Convatec Group , CPP Group, Franchise Brands, General Accident (Prf), Genuit Group, Globaldata, Grafton Group Ut (CDI), H&T Group, International Personal Finance, John Menzies 9% Cumulative Preference 1, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Northern Electricity Prf, Pagegroup, Quilter, Rathbone Brothers, Robert Walters, S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Savills, Tclarke

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Diversified Energy Company , Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, RM Infrastructure Income, UIL Limited (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Barratt Developments

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Glencore , Pagegroup, Puma Vct 11

AGMS

Blue Planet Investment Trust, Carclo, Jet2, Jlen Environmental Assets Group Limited NPV, Monks Inv Trust, Safestay, Watches of Switzerland Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (00:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (00:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Pennon Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BHP Group, Creightons, Downing Four Vct Generalist, Downing Four Vct Healthcare , Gresham House Strategic , Miton UK Microcap Trust, Panther Securities, Redde Northgate, Solid State