Thursday preview: US services sector and jobs data in focus

The spotlight will continue to be on services sector data on Thursday, with a closely-followed survey reading due out.

America's jobs market will also be on investors' minds, as the Department of Labor publishes its weekly initial unemployment claims data ahead of Friday's monthly non-farm payrolls report.

Across the Channel meanwhile, financial markets' main focus will be on Eurozone consumer price data for December.

Consensus is for a reading of -0.3% year-on-year, unchanged from the month before.

Thursday 07 January

AGMs

Global Petroleum Ltd., Cambria Automobiles, Ormonde Mining

Quarterly Ex-Dividend Date

BMO UK High Income Trust, BMO Private Equity Trust, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV

GMs

Value and Income Trust, DP Poland

Final Ex-Dividend Date

Baillie Gifford European Growth Trust, Focusrite, Henderson European Focus Trust, Unicorn AIM VCT, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, UDG Healthcare Public, Limited Company, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, DotDigital Group, AB Dynamics,

AJ Bell

Interim Ex-Dividend Payment Date

Electrocomponents, Albion Venture Capital Trust, Wincanton, Total Produce, Hibernia Reit, BMO Global Smaller Companies, QinetiQ Group, F&C Investment Trust, Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust, Murray International Trust, Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust, Northern 3 VCT, Puma VCT 12, Aberdeen New Dawn Investment Trust, Shires Income, Northern 2 VCT, Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., XPS Pensions Group, Aberdeen Latin American Income Fund Ltd, British Land Company, Aveva Group, Iomart Group, The Panoply Holdings, Bodycote, Invesco Enhanced Income Limited, Experian

Interim Dividend Payment Date

Bunzl, Caledonia Investments, Castings, Alliance Pharma, Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd. (EUR), Puma Vct 11

Special Ex-Dividend Date

BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares, Cairn Energy

Quarterly Ex-Dividend Date

BMO UK High Income Trust, BMO Private Equity Trust, Marble Point Loan Financing Limited NPV

UK Economic Announcements

PMI Construction (09:30)

International Economic Announcements

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Industrial Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Consumer Confidence (EU) (10:00)

Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)