Thursday preview: US jobs market in focus again

Financial markets' focus on Thursday would continue to be on the U.S. jobs market.

Consensus was that at 1330 BST the Department of Labor would announce a 6,000 person rise in the number of weekly jobless claims to reach 210.000.

In the background, of course, investors were expectant ahead of the monthly non-farm payrolls data due out the next day.

On home shores, at 0930 BST the Bank of England would publish the results of its Decision Maker Panel survey.

And at 1045 BST, BoE deputy governor Ben Broadbent was to participate on a panel at an ECB's monetary policy conference.

Across the Channel, German export figures for August were scheduled for release before the market open.

They would be followed in the afternoon by speeches from several top ECB officials.

Thursday 05 October

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aviva, CRH 7% 'A' Cum Prf (CDI), Haleon , InterContinental Hotels Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Andrews Sykes Group, AVI Japan Opportunity Trust , Bank of Georgia Group, Barr (A.G.), Bodycote, Centaur Media, Centrica, Christie Group, EMIS Group, Facilities by ADF, Hunting, Johnson Service Group, Judges Scientific, Keywords Studios, Learning Technologies Group , LSL Property Services, Mears Group, Morgan Sindall Group, Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Skillcast Group, Smith & Nephew, Spectris, Ten Entertainment Group , Travis Perkins, Weir Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CT Private Equity Trust, CT UK High Income Trust, CT UK High Income Trust B , Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

PMI Construction (GER) (09:30)

GMS

Sportech

FINALS

Volution Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Andrews Sykes Group, Galliford Try, Hays

AGMS

Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Novacyt S.A. (CDI)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

CMC Markets, Ferrexpo, Ferrexpo

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

MIGO Opportunities Trust

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Arcontech Group, Begbies Traynor Group, Chemring 7% Cumulative Preference Shares 1, Frenkel Topping Group, Hansard Global, Hays, Heavitree Brewery 11 1/2% Cum Prf , JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust, Latham (James) 8% Cumulative Preference 1, Manchester & London Investment Trust, TheWorks.Co.Uk