Week ahead: Carney and US employment report in focus

In the coming week, Bank of England governor Mark Carney will have a chance to explain the Monetary Policy Committee´s take on recent events in global capital markets, following recent 'dovish' remarks (and actions in some cases) from some MPC members and his peers in the Eurozone and Japan.

On Thursday, the MPC will decide on interest rates and the BoE will publish its latest Inflation Report.

However, the reaction to any remarks might be muted given that the monthly US employment report is scheduled to be published the next day (consensus: 200,000), right on the heels of a non-committal Fed policy statement on 27 January.

Setting the stage for the governor will be a raft of manufacturing sector data from around the globe, the UK included.

China will kick-off the proceedings on Monday, when Caixin publishes its manufacturing sector purchasing managers´ index for January.

Similar data for the Eurozone in particular will also be closely watched, given the potential for an easing move from the European Central Bank when it next meets. A poor showing might help to shorten the odds of another cut in the monetary authority´s deposit rate.

Central bank decisions in Australia and Mexico may also draw more attention than usual given the recent sharp declines in commodity prices around the world.

Monday 01 February

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Dart Group, KCOM Group, Mitie Group, United Utilities Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Torchmark Corp., Verizon Communications

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30)
Personal Income (US) (13:30)
Personal Spending (US) (13:30)

FINALS
RM

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Next

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
BBA Aviation 5% Cum Prf, BP 8% Cum 1st Prf, BP 9% 2nd Prf, Marston's, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund

Tuesday 02 February

INTERIMS
Aberforth Geared Income Trust, Alumasc Group, Mattioli Woods, NWF Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Johnson Matthey, Vianet Group, Workspace Group

FINALS
Low & Bonar, Ocado Group, St. Modwen Properties

ANNUAL REPORT
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Johnson Matthey

AGMS
Dewhurst, Dewhurst (Non-Voting), Ground Rents Income Fund, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Baring Emerging Europe, JPMorgan Chinese Inv Trust

Wednesday 03 February

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ashtead Group, Vodafone Group

Q4
Public Joint Stock Company Severstal GDR (Reg S), Torchmark Corp.

FINALS
Public Joint Stock Company Severstal GDR (Reg S)

AGMS
Artemis VCT, Conygar Investment Company, Conygar ZDP , Dunedin Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Future, Redhall Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberdeen Asset Management, Focusrite

Thursday 04 February

INTERIMS
Avanti Capital

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Anglo Pacific Group, Tongaat-Hulett Ltd.

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Cohort, CPL Resources, Daejan Holdings, Downing One VCT , Drum Income Plus Reit, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd., Puma VCT 10 , Puma Vct 8, Puma VCT 9, Puma Vct VII, Stagecoach Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Custodian Reit , JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited, Toro Limited , Unilever

Q4
Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B'

FINALS
AstraZeneca, Primary Health Properties, Royal Dutch Shell 'A', Royal Dutch Shell 'B', Smith & Nephew

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Scottish Inv Trust

EGMS
Glenwick

AGMS
Compass Group, Connect Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Compass Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Scottish Inv Trust, Topps Tiles, WH Smith

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Ltd EURO, CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Ltd GBP, Imperial Tobacco Group, P2P Global Investments C, Terra Capital, Urban&Civic , Victrex plc

Friday 05 February

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Bisichi Mining, ICAP, Supergroup

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Investors Capital Trust 'A' Shares

Q4
BG Group

FINALS
BG Group

ANNUAL REPORT
Formation Group, On The Beach Group

AGMS
Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Lakehouse, On The Beach Group , Petro Matad Ltd., Shaftesbury, Stride Gaming

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Britvic, Game Digital, Henderson European Focus Trust, JPMorgan Asian Inv Trust, Servoca