Thursday preview: US jobless figures, German CPI in focus

All eyes on Thursday would be on the latest weekly unemployment claims figures in the US.

The data always drew a lot of attention, but might now be even more closely watched by investors for confirmation of the blowout January non-farm payrolls report.

Before that report, some economists had gone as far as to call into question the reliability of the weekly jobless claims data.

On the Continent, a reading on harmonised German consumer prices for January were scheduled for release at 0700 GMT (consensus: 10.1% year-on-year).

At 0830 GMT, rate-setters at the Riksbank were expected to announce a 50 basis point hike in official short-term interest rates to 3.0%.

On home shores, overnight the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors would release its house price balance for January.

Chinese money supply growth figures for January were due to be published between Thursday and 15 February.

Thursday 09 February

FINALS

Unilever, AstraZeneca

INTERIMS

Redrow

Q4

AstraZeneca, Unilever

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bellway, Compass Group, Watches of Switzerland Group

AGMs

Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust, easyJet, Tritax Eurobox (GBP), Compass Group, Zytronic, Oxford Metrics

EGMs

Ethernity Networks Ltd, Compass Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Avon Protection, Impax Asset Management Group, Titon Holdings, Victorian Plumbing Group, Zytronic, Renew Holdings, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Gulf Investment Fund

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Smiths News

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Impax Environmental Markets, Target Healthcare Reit Ltd, Ecofin U.S. Renewables Infrastructure Trust, Abrdn Property Income Trust Limited

Greencoat UK Wind, Impact Healthcare Reit, Taylor Maritime Investments Limited NPV, CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV GBP, Alternative Income Reit, Taylor Maritime Investments Limited NPV, Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited, CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV Euro, Aberforth Split Level Income Trust, Residential Secure Income, UK Commercial Property Reit Limited, Ediston Property Investment Company, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Ecofin U.S. Renewables Infrastructure Trust

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Ashtead Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Victorian Plumbing Group, Life Settlement Assets, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Picton Property Income Ltd, The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited, Custodian Property Income Reit, Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION COM STK USD0.20 (CDI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)