Thursday preview: US weekly jobs data, Global factory PMIs in the spotlight

September will get off to a busy start in the US with the release of a barrage of economic reports, including readings for weekly jobless claims, non-farm productivity, construction spending and services sector activity.

The former and the latter were perhaps most likely to influence financial markets.

Economists at Barclays Research were expecting that the former would print at 245,000, little changed from the 243,000 recorded during the preceding week.

The US Institute of Supply Management's closely followed factory sector Purchasing Managers' Index meanwhile was seen coming down from July's level of 52.8 to 52.1 (Barclays Research: 51.2).

Manufacturing would also be in focus in China with survey compiler Caixin's PMI for the sector seen slipping from 50.4 to 50.1 (Barclays Research: 49.8).

Across the Channel, at 0900 BST S&P Global was scheduled to publish a final reading for its euro area factory sector PMI referencing the month of August (consensus: 49.7).

Also due out were readings for German retail and for euro area unemployment, both covering July, at 0700 BST and 0900 BST, respectively.

A final reading on S&P Global's UK factory was also due out, at 0930 BST.

Thursday 01 September

INTERIMS

Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Camellia, Eurocell , Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI), PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Wentworth Resources NPV

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Coventry 12 1/8% Perm Int Bearing Shs #1000

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Aferian, Antofagasta, Apax Global Alpha Limited , Aviva 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, Capital Limited (DI), Centamin (DI), Clarkson, Endeavour Mining, General Accident (Prf), Genuit Group, Henry Boot Prf, Hochschild Mining, InterContinental Hotels Group, International Personal Finance, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust 5% Cumulative Preference 1, Pagegroup, Quilter, Ramsdens Holdings , Rathbones Group, Robert Walters, S and U 6% Cumulative Prf. £1, Savills, Tclarke

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JpMorgan China Growth & Income , JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Unilever

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock World Mining Trust, Diversified Energy Company , Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust, Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Regional REIT Limited, RM Infrastructure Income

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Construction Spending (US) (15:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55)

PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Omega Diagnostics Group

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Me Group International

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Admiral Group, Pagegroup

AGMS

Carclo, Jet2, Jlen Environmental Assets Group Limited NPV, Picton Property Income Ltd, Softline Holding GDR (REG S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Manufacturing (09:30)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), Inspects Group , Knights Group Holdings , Miton UK Microcap Trust, ProCook Group, Redde Northgate, Solid State, Supreme