Wednesday preview: US jobs data, Boohoo in the spotlight

Financial markets' focus in the middle of the week will be on the US, where two key economic indicators are scheduled for release.

First out will be consultancy ADP's monthly private sector payrolls reports, at 1315 BST, with investors keen to see if expectations for a continued acceleration in hiring is borne out by the most up-to-date data.

The ISM institute's services sector Purchasing Managers' Index will also help take stock of the momentum in US economic activity.

In timely fashion, at 1500 BST the European Central Bank's chief economist, Philip Lane, is due to speak at a workshop about the ECB's strategy review and monetary policy challenges.

Recent headlines appear to indicate that the ECB may soon have to factor-in calls for a slightly less accommodative monetary policy Stateside.

Euro area factory gate price data for March may also make for interesting reading (consensus: 4.2% year-on-year).

On home shores, the only economic figures of interest that are due out will be those for new car registrations in April.

On the corporate side of things, investors' focus will be on fashion outfit Boohoo as it reports its latest full-year results.

As recently as January, the company revised its guidance for full-year sales growth higher, from a range of 28-32% to 36-38%, and said it was expecting margins on an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation basis of around 10.0%.

Wednesday 05 May

INTERIMS

Cambria Automobiles, Smiths News , Virgin Money UK

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

NWF Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

WANdisco

EGMS

Phoenix Spree Deutschland Limited Shs NPV

AGMS

Alpha Fx Group , Anglo American, Barclays, Clarkson, GlaxoSmithKline, Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (CDI), Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), Johnson Service Group, MPAC Group, Personal Group Holdings, Proteome Sciences, Tclarke , Ten Entertainment Group , The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited, TOC Property Backed Lending Trust, Tritax Big Box Reit , Unilever

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Direct Line Insurance Group, Smith & Nephew

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

CareTech Holding, CRH (CDI), Grafton Group Ut (CDI)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

EP Global Opportunities Trust

Q1

Amryt Pharma