Week ahead: Focus on Brexit talks, US-China trade

The most important event over the coming week will be the outcome of Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox's discussions with EU negotiators to secure a favourable interpretation regarding the Irish backstop.

If successful, that could pave the way for MPs to support the Prime Minister's withdrawal plans when Parliament votes on 12 March.

Failing that, MPs are expected to push for a delay to the UK's exit date on 29 March. However, according to analysts at Eurasia Group, that might raise the prospect of a Common Market 2.0 or Norway Plus-style agreement being tabled in June.

Faced with such a prospect, many Brexiters may well choose to fall into line now, the think-tank said.

Investors will also be keeping a close eye throughout the week on the ongoing US-China trade talks, with the monthly US non-farm payrolls report for February due for release on Friday.

In the euro area, all eyes will be on the European Central Bank's Governing Council meeting on Thursday.

Most economists don't appear to be expecting the ECB to unveil a fresh set of bank loans, known as TLTROs, at the meeting.

But the sharp drop seen in Barclays's Augmented Credit Impulse indicator over the fourth quarter of 2018 led economists at the investment bank to expect such announcement by no later than the June GC meeting, and potentially earlier.

Further afield, in China, the second session of the 13th National People's Congress will kick-off on Tuesday.

According to economists at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, there is only a relatively small probability that officials will approve large stimulus measures.

Delegates are also expected to discuss reform initiatives meant to boost growth and efficiency.

Monday March 04

INTERIMS

Abcam, Gfinity , Litigation Capital Management Limited (DI), Sareum Holdings

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Construction Spending (US) (15:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

FINALS

Greencoat Renewables, Johnson Service Group, Keller Group, Senior

AGMS

Alpha Growth , IG Seismic Services GDR (Reg S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Construction (09:30)

Tuesday March 05

INTERIMS

Ashtead Group, Craneware, Netcall

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (14:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (08:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:30)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Services (EU) (08:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)

Q3

Ashtead Group

GMS

Range Resources Ltd. (DI)

FINALS

4Imprint Group, Apax Global Alpha Limited , BioPharma Credit , Direct Line Insurance Group, e-Therapeutics, Getbusy, GVC Holdings, Harworth Group, Huntsworth, Ibstock , Intertek Group, LSL Property Services, MPAC Group, Science Group

ANNUAL REPORT

Apax Global Alpha Limited

AGMS

Blackrock North American Income Trust , CareTech Holding, Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust , Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Services (08:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Nexus Infrastructure

Wednesday March 06

INTERIMS

Allergy Therapeutics

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Stagecoach Group, Van Elle Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Merchants Trust, Novacyt S.A. (CDI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Kosmos Energy (DI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

FINALS

Anpario, BATM Advanced Communications Ltd., Costain Group, FDM Group (Holdings), Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Glenveagh Properties, Headlam Group, Just Eat , Legal & General Group, Paddy Power Betfair, Pagegroup, Secure Income Reit , Seplat Petroleum Development Company (DI), Tritax Big Box Reit , Vivo Energy , VR Education Holdings

AGMS

Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 1, Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 2, Redhall Group

Thursday March 07

INTERIMS

Inland Homes

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Ashmore Group, Beeks Financial Cloud Group, BHP Group, City of London Investment Group, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Draper Esprit VCT, Evraz, Genus, Green Reit, Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited NPV (DI), Hays, Hotel Chocolat Group , Joules Group, MJ Gleeson , Redrow, Renishaw, South32 Limited (DI) , Springfield Properties , Volta Finance Limited NPV (GBP), Wilmington

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust , Diversified Gas & Oil, Honeycomb Investment Trust, Premier Global Infrastructure Trust, Raven Property Group 6.5% Red Cnv Pref Shs NPV, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd, RM Secured Direct Lending, SQN Secured Income Fund , UIL Limited (DI), Volta Finance Limited

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)

Gross Domestic Product (EU) (10:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Admiral Group, AIREA, Alfa Financial Software Holdings , Aviva, Cairn Homes , Cobham, Countrywide, Funding Circle Holdings , Greggs, IndigoVision Group, Informa, Inmarsat, NMC Health, Spirent Communications

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

City of London Investment Group, LXB Retail Properties, Persimmon, Rio Tinto, South32 Limited (DI)

AGMS

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. GDR (Reg S), Impax Asset Management Group, Shoe Zone

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (08:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Oxford Metrics

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CareTech Holding, Chrysalis VCT, Grafton Group Units, LPA Group, Redde, Rio Tinto, RSA Ins 7 3/8%pf, RSA Insurance Group, Safestore Holdings, St. Modwen Properties, Standard Chartered, Temple Bar Inv Trust

Friday March 08

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Daejan Holdings, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

General Electric Co

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)

FINALS

SIG

ANNUAL REPORT

CRH

AGMS

Geiger Counter Limited, PCF Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Elegant Hotels Group , Renew Holdings