Week ahead: China, US PMIs and Chinese National People's Congress in focus

Investors' focus over the coming week would be on a raft of Purchasing Managers surveys due out in many of the world's largest economies, including those of China, the euro area, UK and US.

In particular, attention would be on those for China, for which preliminary readings were not yet available, and those from the US Institute for Supply Management.

For China, financial markets were likely to be trying to gauge to what extent, or not, the post-lockdown recovery in the economy was gaining speed.

In the case of the ISM surveys, the focus would be on whether they confirmed the strong rebound seen in other recent US survey data for February.

At the end of the week, on 5 March, China's 14th National People's Congress was set to begin.

On home shores, consumer credit and lending figures for January were due out on Wednesday.

The next day, Nationwide would release the results of its house price survey for the month of February.

A speech by newly-minted Bank of Japan Governor, Ueda, on Monday would also be closely monitored for clues as to the central bank's most likely path for monetary policy in 2023.

Across the Channel, Monday would bring with it euro area money supply growth figures for January, which might belie the strength of recent economic surveys, and on Thursday Eurostat would publish a preliminary reading for euro area consumer prices in February.

Stateside, monthly durable goods orders figures on Monday and house price surveys the next day were also likely to be closely followed.

Monday 27 February

INTERIMS

Beeks Financial Cloud Group, Dechra Pharmaceuticals

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Canadian General Investments Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

M3 Money Supply (EU) (09:00)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

Services Sentiment (EU) (10:00)

Q4

Smith & Nephew

GMS

Diversified Energy Company

FINALS

Centralnic Group , Centralnic Group , Globaldata, Greencoat Renewables (CDI), RHI Magnesita N.V. (DI), Senior, Smith & Nephew, Spectral Md Holdings, Ltd (DI)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Amedeo Air Four Plus Limited Red Ord NPV

AGMS

Carr's Group, Oncimmune Holdings, Ramsdens Holdings

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Associated British Foods

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Newcastle 12 5/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000

Tuesday 28 February

INTERIMS

Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited, Mcbride

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

B.P. Marsh & Partners, City of London 4.2% Cum 1st Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust 4.2% Non-Cum 2nd Prf Stk, City of London Investment Trust Preference Ord Stk 14% Non-Cumulative 1, NB Private Equity Partners Ltd.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

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

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chicago PMI (US) (14:45)

Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00)

House Price Index (US) (14:00)

Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)

GMS

Reabold Resources

FINALS

Abrdn , Croda International, Derwent London, HUTCHMED (China) Limited, Intertek Group, Kitwave Group, Man Group, Morgan Advanced Materials , Ocado Group, Rotork, Serco Group, Societatea Nationala De Gaze Naturale Romgaz S.A. GDR (Reg S), St James's Place, Travis Perkins, Uniphar (CDI), Unite Group, Videndum , XP Power Ltd. (DI)

EGMS

Hambro Perks Acquisition Company Limited CLS A ORD NPV, Ncondezi Energy Limited (DI)

AGMS

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Newmark Security PLC, Velocity Composites , Watkin Jones

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Softline Holding GDR (REG S)

Wednesday 01 March

INTERIMS

Haydale Graphene Industries

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JpMorgan China Growth & Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Auto Sales (US) (20:30)

Construction Spending (US) (15:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)

FINALS

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings, Capital & Counties Properties , Getbusy, Nichols, Persimmon, Rathbones Group, Reckitt Benckiser Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Amedeo Air Four Plus Limited Red Ord NPV

AGMS

River and Mercantile UK Micro Cap Investment Company Limited

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)

Consumer Credit (09:30)

M4 Money Supply (09:30)

Mortgage Approvals (09:30)

Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)

PMI Manufacturing (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Coventry 12 1/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000

Thursday 02 March

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Ashmore Group, Berkeley Group Holdings (The), City of London Investment Group, Diageo, Genus, Hargreaves Lansdown, Harmony Energy Income Trust, Hays, MJ Gleeson , Molten Ventures VCT , Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Wilmington

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, HICL Infrastructure , Pollen Street, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, Regional REIT Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Beazley, Cairn Homes (CDI), Cairn Homes (CDI), Cairn Homes (CDI), Capita, Capita, Capital & Regional, Coats Group, CRH (CDI), Flutter Entertainment (CDI), Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Hunting, ITV, ITV, London Stock Exchange Group, Melrose Industries, National Express Group, PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Schroders, Spire Healthcare Group, Synthomer, Taylor Wimpey, Tritax Big Box Reit , Tyman

ANNUAL REPORT

PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Schroders

EGMS

Global Ports Investments GDR (REG S)

AGMS

Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Victorian Plumbing Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Compass Group, Watkin Jones

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Bristol Water 'A' 8 3/4% Cum Irrd Prf, Capital & Counties Properties , Driver Group, General Accident (Prf), Henry Boot Prf, Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference 1, Northern Electricity Prf, Rights & Issues Investment Trust , S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Safestore Holdings, Scottish American Inv Company, Tharisa (DI)

Friday 03 March

INTERIMS

Avation

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

DWF Group , IG Group Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

ICG Enterprise Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Crestchic, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI), IMI, Pearson, Rightmove, Vesuvius

ANNUAL REPORT

Allianz Technology Trust, Crestchic, Crestchic, Crestchic, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI)

EGMS

Dish TV India Limited GDR (Each Repr One Shr)

AGMS

Guild Esports

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Paragon Banking Group, Renew Holdings