Week ahead: US jobs report, China factory surveys in focus

In particular, investors are waiting on Friday's monthly non-farm payrolls report covering the month of December.

Quite important as well for financial markets will be the outcome talks on Capitol Hill aimed at putting an end to the federal government shutdown.

Further afield, in China, on Wednesday IHS Markit is due to release its closely-followed survey of factory sector conditions in the Asian giant.

Any fresh headlines on the ongoing trade talks between Washington and Beijing will also be closely watched.

Indeed, for economists at Barclays Research it is the outcome of those that will shape the global economic outlook in 2019.

Back in the UK, the spotlight will be on manufacturing and services sector surveys, also from Markit, which are due on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

Comparable survey results for the euro area are scheduled to be published in parallel, alongside a preliminary reading on consumer prices for December.

Monday December 31

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Helical

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Albion Technology & General VCT, F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd., HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd, MedicX Fund Ltd., Raven Property Group 6.5% Red Cnv Pref Shs NPV, Raven Property Group Limited Cum Red Pref

GMS

Chaarat Gold Holdings Ltd. (DI)

ANNUAL REPORT

Finsbury Growth & Income Trust

AGMS

Genedrive , Leaf Clean Energy Co (DI), Secure Property Development & Investment (DI), Tetragon Financial Group Limited

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aviva 8 3/4% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Brunner Investment 5% Prf, Ecclesiastical Insurance 8.625% Non-Cum Irr Pref Shares

Tuesday January 01

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Balfour Beatty Cum Cnv Red Prf , General Accident 'A'

Wednesday January 02

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bunzl, Castings, Fuller Smith & Turner, Great Portland Estates, Headlam Group, Next, TR Property Inv Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Thursday January 03

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

De La Rue, Hill & Smith Holdings, Mckay Securities, Rolls-Royce Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Auto Trader Group , Aveva Group, Bisichi Mining, BMO Global Smaller Companies, Dairy Crest Group, Hibernia Reit , Latham (James), Northern 2 VCT, Northern 3 VCT, PHSC, United Carpets Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anglo Pacific Group, BMO UK High Income Trust , British Land Company

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Auto Sales (US) (20:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

M3 Money Supply (EU) (08:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Abbey, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares, LXB Retail Properties, Ranger Direct Lending Fund

AGMS

PCG Entertainment (DI), Wishbone Gold

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Next, Staffline Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BBA Aviation 5% Cum Prf, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, Cerillion , Character Group, European Investment Trust, ITE Group, Lowland Investment Co, McCarthy & Stone, Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund, Up Global Sourcing Holdings

Friday January 04

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Biffa, JD Sports Fashion, Liontrust Asset Management, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, MS International, Renewi , Severn Trent, Tate & Lyle, Ten Entertainment Group , ULS Technology

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock North American Income Trust , Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

PMI Composite (GER) (08:30)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:30)

PMI Services (GER) (08:30)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55)

Unemployment Rate (US) (12:30)

EGMS

Aminex

AGMS

Cambria Automobiles, Craven House Capital

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Johnson Service Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

British Empire Trust, Town Centre Securities