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