Week ahead: US jobs report, Fed's Powell in the spotlight
Investors' attention over the coming week will be trained on two key risk events in the U.S..
The first of those will be what many consider to be the all-important monthly non-farm payrolls report in the States due out on Friday.
That will be preceded on Wednesday by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's semi-annual testimony to Congress on monetary policy.
Quite significant as well for financial markets will be the Chinese People's Congress, which will begin on Tuesday, and the Chancellor's Spring Budget which will be announced on the following day.
Regarding the latter, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto, said: "I would think this is going to be more about pre-election giveaways to woo middle and working class England – personal tax cuts are welcome but probably won’t do much for the FTSE."
Nonetheless, fresh forecasts for borrowing and tax cuts could affect gilts and sterling, Wilson added.
Thursday may also prove consequential, as rate-setters at the European Central Bank announce their latest policy decision.
Other important economic data releases to watch for will include a raft of services sector purchasing managers' surveys for the euro area, UK and US on Tuesday.
Policy makers at Bank of Canada will meet to decide on policy come Wednesday.
U.S. politics will also be on the radar with investors digesting the news-flow around the so-called 'Super Tuesday' primaries.
Monday 4 March
FINALS
Tekmar Group, JSC Halyk Bank GDR (Reg S), Edita Food Industries, ROS Agro GDR REG S,
Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red), Quartix, Technologies, Pagegroup, Autins Group, Globaldata, Clarkson
INTERIMS
Craneware
Q4
JSC Halyk Bank GDR (Reg S), ROS Agro GDR REG S
FINALS
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Caledonia Mining Corporation (DI), Jaywing, Celsius Resources Limited (DI), Rosslyn Data Technologies
AGMs
JPMorgan Emerging Europe, Middle East & Africa Securities
EGMs
Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.
GMs
Ascent Resources, Kromek Group
ANNUAL REPORT
Edita Food Industries, Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red), Moneysupermarket.com Group
Tuesday 5 March
FINALS
IWG, SIG, Reach, Apax Global Alpha Limited, Headlam Group, Bakkavor Group, Johnson Service Group, Hiscox Limited (DI), Inchcape, XP Power Ltd. (DI), Rotork, STV Group, Travis Perkins, Intertek Group, Greggs, Keller Group, Fresnillo
INTERIMS
DotDigital Group, Beeks Financial Cloud Group
Q3
Ashtead Group
AGMs
Baronsmead Venture Trust, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Driver Group, Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust, Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, CC Japan Income & Growth Trust, Ajax Resources, Baronsmead Second Venture Trust
GMs
Beowulf Mining, UK Oil & Gas
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, PayPoint
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)
PMI Composite (09:30)
PMI Services (09:30)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTE
PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)
PMI Services (GER) (08:55)
PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
PMI Composite (US) (14:45)
PMI Services (US) (14:45)
PMI Services (US) (15:00)
ISM Services (US) (15:00)
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
Wednesday 6 March
FINALS
Greencoat Renewables (CDI), Quilter, Ibstock, Rathbones Group, Lancashire Holdings Limited, Spirent Communications, Legal & General Group, Nichols, Convatec Group, Tullow Oil, CLS Holdings, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Breedon Group
INTERIMS
Galliford Try, Netcall, Ricardo
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Smith (DS)
AGMs
Mila Resources, Paragon Banking Group
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AB Dynamics
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Tetragon Financial Group Limited
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Construction (09:30)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)
Import Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Thursday 7 March
FINALS
Aviva, Tyman, Coats Group, Entain, TT Electronics, Harbour Energy, ITV, Admiral Group, Melrose Industries, Just Group, Beazley, Rentokil Initial, Elementis, Nexus Infrastructure, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Robert Walters
INTERIMS
Darktrace, Brooks Macdonald Group, Kier Group
AGMs
Asia Strategic Holdings Limited NPV (DI), Ct Uk Capital and Income Investment Trust, Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust
GMs
XPS Pensions Group
ANNUAL REPORT
Allianz Technology Trust
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Rights & Issues Investment Trust, Safestore Holdings, Athelney Trust, Woodside Energy Group Ltd NPV (DI), Rio Tinto, Law Debenture Corp., Standard Chartered
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Temple Bar Inv Trust, SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust, BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), Renishaw, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, HSBC Holdings, Ct Uk Capital and Income Investment Trust, Colefax Group, Thames Ventures Vct 2 DSO D Shs, Redcentric, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, South32 Limited (DI), Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Crown Place VCT, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Abrdn DIversified Income And Growth, PZ Cussons, Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltd, Develop North, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, Personal Assets Trust, Utilico Emerging Markets Ltd (DI)
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI), Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Assura, RM Infrastructure Income, Energean
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halifax House Price Index (07:00)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)
Friday 8 March
FINALS
BP, FBD Holdings (CDI), Informa
AGMs
Allergy Therapeutics, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Avon Protection, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Paragon Banking Group, Victorian Plumbing Group, Renew Holdings, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Blackstone Loan Financing Limited (EUR), PRS Reit (The), Troy Income & Growth Trust, Aberforth Split Level Income Trust, Majedie, Investments, Residential Secure Income, S&U, SSE
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)
Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)
Gross Domestic Product (EU) (10:00)
Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)
Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)