Week ahead: Global services PMIs, RBA in focus

The global services sector will be in focus over the coming week, with surveys from the euro area, UK and US expected to point towards resilience despite the shock from the war in Ukraine.

If expectations are proven correct, that may help to underpin the investment case for global equities.

All three survey results are due out on Tuesday with IHS Markit's UK Purchasing Managers' Index for the sector seen coming in at 60.8, little changed from a preliminary reading of 61.0 and ahead of the 60.5 level observed in February.

Across the Channel meanwhile, a rival services PMI for the euro area is expected to print at 54.8, which would be unchanged from the 'flash' print and only modestly below February's level of 55.5.

Stateside, the Institute for Supply Management will release its own closely-followed services PMI, which is in fact expected to reveal a moderate pick up in the pace of growth.

Central banks won't be far from investors' minds either, with the US Federal Reserve due to release the minutes of 16 March policy meeting on Wednesday.

Down Under meantime, rate-setters in Sydney will meet, also on Tuesday, to decide on monetary policy, although they may be sitting pretty in comparison to others given their country's role as a key commodity exporter.

They will be followed by their counterparts in Romania, also on Tuesday, in Poland on Wednesday and by those in New Delhi on Friday.

Monday 4 April

FINALS

Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company, Devolver Digital, Inc. (DI) Reg S Cat 3/144A, MEDICA GROUP, Surface Transforms, Belvoir Group, Zegona Communications, Elixirr International, Xpediator

INTERIMS

Cloudbreak Discovery

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eckoh, Thruvision Group, Distribution Finance Capital Holdings, Likewise Group, The Fulham Shore

AGMs

Poolbeg Pharma, Fintel

ANNUAL REPORT

Symphony International Holdings Ltd., Schroder Asian Total Return, Investment Company, Abcam, S&U, Yu Group, Aquis Exchange, Cenkos Securities

DRILLING REPORT

Power Metal Resources, Yamana Gold Inc. NPV (CDI), AEX Gold Inc. NPV (DI)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Howden Joinery Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Apax Global Alpha Limited

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

MJ Gleeson

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Current Account (GER) (07:00)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

Tuesday 5 April

FINALS

DP Eurasia N.V. (DI), Quixant, Sourcebio International, Next Fifteen Communications, Property Franchise Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Moonpig Group, Marlowe

AGMs

Nokia OYJ, Scottish American Inv Company, Athelney Trust

EGMs

New Century AIM VCT 2

ANNUAL REPORT

New Century AIM VCT 2

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Barclays

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Pennon Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

Wednesday 6 April

FINALS

Wentworth Resources NPV, Avacta Group, Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, IGas Energy, Hilton Food Group, EPWIN GROUP

INTERIMS

Applied Graphene Materials

AGMs

Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Driver Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Hargreaves Services, Alumasc Group, Appreciate Group, Wilmington

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Real Trust Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:50)

Thursday 6 April

FINALS

Attraqt Group

INTERIMS

Tracsis

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parity Group

AGMs

Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, AFC Energy, RM, Law Debenture Corp.

EGMs

Lekoil Ltd (DI)

ANNUAL REPORT

Menzies(John)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Rotork, Personal Group Holdings

Chesnara, Direct Line Insurance Group, Scotgems, Lloyds Banking Group, TP Icap Group, Rentokil Initial, Vistry Group, Aferian, Quilter, Kerry Group 'A' Shares (CDI), FEVERTREE DRINKS, Dunedin Enterprise Investment Trust, Savills, Grafton Group Ut (CDI), Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI), Man Group, Melrose Industries, Abrdn, Mondi, F&C Investment Trust, Harbour Energy, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), International Personal Finance, Kitwave Group, IMI, Synectics, Domino's Pizza Group, Capital Limited (DI), Luceco, Aviva

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Safestore Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Henderson EuroTrust, Kings Arms Yard VCT, International Public Partnerships Ltd., Smith (DS), Schroder Income Growth Fund, Chelverton UK Dividend Trust, Bioventix, Invesco Asia Trust, abrdn Smaller Companies Income Trust, Ediston Property Investment Company, Smiths Group, Shires Income, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd., Begbies Traynor Group, US Solar Fund, Barratt Developments, Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust, Tristel, DFS Furniture, US Solar Fund (GBP), European Assets Trust, Northamber, Savills, Nippon Active Value Fund, Troy Income & Growth Trust, Softcat, Murray International Trust, Henderson High Income Trust, Diageo, PZ Cussons, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. NPV (DI), South32 Limited (DI)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

DFS Furniture, Savills, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Real Estate Investors, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, BMO Private Equity Trust, BMO UK High Income Trust, BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.NPV (CDI), GlaxoSmithKline, Land Securities Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (07:00)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)

Friday 7 April

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cmc Markets

AGMs

Rio Tinto

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

IDOX, Crest Nicholson Holdings, Independent Inv Trust, Scottish American Inv Company, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Galliford Try, Sylvania Platinum Ltd (DI), Ricardo, NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited Red Ord Shs NPV £, Hays, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, I3 Energy, Redrow, Dunelm Group, Gore Street Energy Storage Fund, Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust, BMO Managed Portfolio Trust Inc Shs

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Independent Inv Trust

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Regional REIT Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wholesale Inventories (US) (15:00)