Wednesday preview: Fed's Powell, US JOLTS report in focus

All eyes on Wednesday were expected to be on the head of the US central bank amid expectations that he would push back on the recent easing in financial conditions, even as he left the door open to a downshift in the pace of rate hikes.

Nevertheless, Jerome Powell's speech at the Brookings Institution was scheduled for 1930 GMT, after the close of market in London.

Ahead of that event, at 1315 GMT, consultancy ADP was to release its estimate for private sector payrolls in November (consensus: 195,000), followed a quarter of an hour later by the JOLTS labour market survey covering the month of October.

The latter, in particular, might impact on intraday trading, given that at least some economists were on the lookout for any sign of a softening in the jobs market.

Investors would also be eyeing the release of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book at 2000 GMT.

Across the Channel meanwhile, a preliminary reading for euro area consumer prices in November was due out at 1000 GMT and recent weaker-than-expected prints for Germany and Spain pointed to downside risks versus the consensus estimate.

A reading on German unemployment was also scheduled for release at 0855 GMT.

Further afield, the market spotlight would be on the results of the official Chinese manufacturing sector survey for November.

Also due out in Asia were Japanese and South Korean industrial production figures for October.

Lloyds was also scheduled to publish its UK Business Barometer for November overnight.

Wednesday 30 November

INTERIMS

Carclo, D4T4 Solutions, Pennon Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

BAE Systems, LLoyds Banking Group 9.25% Non-Cum Irredeemable Pref Shares, LLoyds Banking Group 9.75% Non-Cum Irredeemable Pref Shares, RBG Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

AssetCo, James Halstead 5.5% Cumulative Preference 1

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited , City of London Inv Trust, Custodian Reit , Picton Property Income Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Beige Book Fed Survey (US) (19:00)

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Gross Domestic Product (US) (13:30)

Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Contango Holdings , Impax Asset Management Group

EGMS

Gemfields Group Limited, X5 Retail Group NV GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Atlantic Lithium Limited NPV (DI), Chamberlin, Dunelm Group, Europa Metals Ltd NPV (DI), Ferguson, Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust, Leeds Group, Mc Mining Limited, Nanoco Group, Pires Investments, Renishaw

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

ITV, Loungers

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Coral Products, Diverse Income Trust (The), Fonix Mobile , New Star Investment Trust, PZ Cussons

Q1

Renalytix (Reg S)