Tuesday preview: UK employment, Apple in focus

All eyes on Tuesday will be on the latest UK employment report.

At 0700 BST, the Office for National Statistics is expected to announce that the rate of unemployment ticked up by a tenth of a percentage point over the three months ending in July to reach 4.3%.

The rate of wage growth meanwhile is seen steady at a record 7.8% for the three months to July.

Commenting on the backdrop ahead of that release, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: "With CPI starting to slow the Bank of England is having to contend with navigating an outlook where wages growth is likely to remain sticky for some months, at the same time as inflation that is starting to slow.

"They also need to be mindful of the fact that the 14 rate rises already implemented have yet to make themselves fully felt and could take quite a few more months before their effects are fully realised."

Across the Channel meanwhile, financial markets will be waiting on the ZEW institute's closely followed economic index for Germany covering the month of September.

Spanish consumer price data for August are also set for release.

On the company side of things, investors' focus is likely to be on Apple's "Wonderlust" event ahead of what is typically the US technology giant's strongest quarter of each year.

Rumours point to the possible launch of a new iPhone 15 and Apple Watch series 9, Hewson added.

A new standard iPad with upgraded chipsets is also likely, alongside the new USB-C charging connector.

An update on the VisionPro headset is another possibility.

Tuesday 12 September

INTERIMS

Cornerstone FS, Creo Medical Group, Dowlais Group, Elecosoft Public Limited Company, Equals Group , Harworth Group, Hvivo, IQE, Itaconix , JTC, Ocean Harvest Technology Group , Property Franchise Group, Smart Metering Systems, The Gym Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Foxtons Group , Lloyds Banking Group, LMS Capital

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

ZEW Survey (EU) - Economic Sentiment (10:00)

GMS

OMV Petrom S.A. GDR (REG S)

FINALS

Feedback, Mattioli Woods, Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI)

AGMS

Northern Bear, RC365 Holding , Rockwood Strategic, Warehouse Reit

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Associated British Foods

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Claimant Count Rate (07:00)

Unemployment Rate (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Ashtead Group, Lindsell Train Inv Trust