Thursday preview: Services PMIs, Fed minutes in the spotlight

Financial markets' focus on Thursday will be on the results of services sector surveys due out in the UK and US covering the month of December.

Also due out in the States is a reading for weekly unemployment claims and on foreign trade in November.

Against that backdrop, investors will also be pouring over the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's last policy meeting, which appeared to open the door to quicker interest rate hikes with some top officials also favouring a start to running off the central bank's balance sheet soon after.

Thursday 6 January

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Next, Greggs, Made.com Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Unicorn AIM VCT, Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, AJ Bell, Aberdeen Standard Asia Focus, Henderson European Focus Trust, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, Up Global Sourcing Holdings

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Smaller Companies Income Trust, Downing Four VCT DSO 'D' Shs, Aveva Group, Shires Income, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, Finncap Group, F&C Investment Trust, Albion Venture Capital Trust, Workspace Group, Ferrexpo, Hibernia Reit (CDI), Murray International Trust, Iomart Group, Cohort, BMO Global Smaller Companies, QinetiQ Group, Impax Environmental Markets, Experian, Aberdeen Latin American Income Fund Ltd, Auto Trader Group, Aberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust, XPS Pensions Group, Panther Securities Northern 3 VCT, Smart Metering Systems

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Caledonia Investments, Castings, Redcentric, Manolete Partners

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Unicorn AIM VCT, Ventus VCT, Ventus VCT 'C' Shares, Ventus 2 VCT D Shs, AJ Bell, Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus 2 VCT 'C' Shares, Ventus VCT D Shs, Aberdeen Standard Asia Focus

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV, BMO Private Equity Trust, BMO UK High Income Trust, Anglo Pacific Group, BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (09:30)