Thursday preview: Fedspeak, U.S. jobs data in focus

America's central bank will continue to be front and centre on investors' minds on Thursday.

Once again, there is a heavy line up of top Fed officials set to take to the podium over the course of the session.

Yet financial market participants will also have the all-important monthly U.S. non-farm payrolls figures, which are due out on the next day, on their minds.

Ahead of those, the latest weekly jobless claims data and consultancy Challenger's tally of monthly layoff announcements may garner some attention.

Services sector survey results will be in the spotlight on this side of the Pond.

S&P Global will release its March services Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro area at 0800 BST, followed by comparable UK survey data at 0830 BST.

They will be accompanied by euro area producer price figures covering the month of February that are due out at 0900 BST.

Thursday 04 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

London Finance & Investment Group, PZ Cussons, South32 Limited (DI)

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

B.P. Marsh & Partners, Chemring 7% Cumulative Preference Shares 1, Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited NPV, Heavitree Brewery 11 1/2% Cum Prf , Latham (James) 8% Cumulative Preference 1, Smiths Group, The European Smaller Companies Trust, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd.

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CT UK High Income Trust, CT UK High Income Trust B , Real Estate Investors

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

LungLife AI, Inc (DI)

EGMS

Globaltrans Investment GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Rio Tinto, Scottish American Inv Company

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Apax Global Alpha Limited , Brunner Inv Trust, Woodside Energy Group Ltd NPV (DI)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alpha Group International, Breedon Group , Dalata Hotel Group (CDI), Direct Line Insurance Group, Domino's Pizza Group, European Assets Trust , Hammerson, IMI, InterContinental Hotels Group, Kitwave Group, Mondi, OSB Group , Rentokil Initial, The Pebble Group