Tuesday preview: Global services PMIs, Travis Perkins in focus

Activity is expected to have held up especially well in the UK and U.S., whereas in the single currency bloc the sector was merely expected to have dodged a contraction.

The HCOB services PMI for the euro area was set for release at 0900 GMT, S&P Global's for the UK at 0930 GMT and that for the U.S. at 1445 GMT.

In the background, investors will also be keeping close tabs on the 'Super Tuesday' votes in up to 15 state primaries in the U.S. in the case of the Republican Party.

On the corporate side of things, builders' merchant Travis Perkins will update shareholders.

Consensus is for a 2.8% drop in sales to reach £4.85bn so that adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation - including property profits - are seen falling by 38% to £183m.

Investors' focus is expected to be on the outlook for fiscal year 2024 and the review of its loss making businesses, says UBS analyst Marcus Cole.

Cole also said he saw a risk to the final dividend for 2023 with the broker anticipating no payout versus the consensus estimate for 15.5p.

On the corporate side of things, builders' merchant Travis Perkins will update shareholders.

Consensus is for a 2.8% drop in sales to reach £4.85bn so that adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation - including property profits - are seen falling by 38% to £183m.

Investors' focus is expected to be on the outlook for fiscal year 2024 and the review of its loss making businesses, says UBS analyst Marcus Cole.

Cole also said he saw a risk to the final dividend for 2023 with the broker anticipating no payout versus the consensus estimate for 15.5p.

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)