Thursday preview: US jobs and manufacturing in focus

The US economy will again be in focus on Thursday with two very closely followed reports covering the country's jobs market and manufacturing sector set for release.

Those reports are the latest weekly jobless claims figures, which are expected to reveal a further slight fall from 963,000 to 925,000 and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's regional factory activity survey for August.

Expectations for the latter are for a dip from July's print of 24.1 to 21.0.

On the Continent meanwhile, rate-setters in Norway are due to meet to decide on policy, with the minutes of the European Central Bank's most recent Governing Council meeting also due out.

In Asia, central bankers in China and the Philippines are also due to announce policy decisions.

No major economic reports are scheduled to be published in the UK.

Thursday 20 August

INTERIMS

Antofagasta, Bank of Georgia Group, Capital Limited (DI), Churchill China, Georgia Capital

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo American, Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Chemring Group, CLS Holdings, Croda International, Croma Security Solutions Group, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd (Bermuda), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Domino's Pizza Group, Drax Group, Glanbia, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Bermuda), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Jersey), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. (Jersey), Jardine Strategic Holdingd Ltd. (Bermuda), Jardine Strategic Holdingd Ltd. (Jersey REG), Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), London Stock Exchange Group, M&G, Plus500 Ltd (DI), Prudential, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Rotork, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Standard Life Aberdeen, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

M Winkworth

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Blackrock North American Income Trust , Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

Q2

Bank of Georgia Group

GMS

Pelatro

FINALS

Frasers Group , Van Elle Holdings

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Artemis VCT, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

AGMS

AO World, Landore Resources Ltd., New Century AIM VCT, Norish Units, Nuformix, Tasty, Tata Steel Ltd GDR (Reg S), Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus VCT, Vertu Motors

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capital Limited (DI)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Blue Planet Investment Trust, First Property Group