Friday preview: US non-farm payrolls, German factory orders in focus

All eyes at the end of the week will be on the US non-farm payrolls report for the month of January.

Until just a few days before the release, consensus had been for a 178,000 increase in hiring, after December's 199,000 rise.

However, recent data had pointed to the possibility of an outright decline in job creation as a result of the advent of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Nevertheless, hopes were that the hit to activity would prove fleeting.

On home shores meanwhile, at 0900 SMMT's new car registration figures are due out, followed a half hour afterwards by IHS Markit's construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of January.

Across the Channel, the spotlight will be on Germany factory orders data for December and euro area retail sales figures covering that same month.

Further afield, Australia's central bank is due to release a statement on monetary policy.

Friday 4 February

Airtel Africa

AGMs

Aberdeen Standard Equity Income Trust, Cerillion, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Shaftesbury, SSP Group

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Origin Enterprises (CDI), Diploma, Henderson European Focus Trust, AJ Bell, Daily Mail and General Trust A (Non.V)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Halma, Aveva Group, Twentyfour Income Fund Limited Ord Red, TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited, JPMorgan Multi-Asset Growth & Income, QinetiQ Group, Experian, Dr. Martens, Vodafone Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

AJ Bell

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

BMO UK High Income Trust, BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)