Investors’ focus over the coming week will be firmly on the Bank of England, as rate-setters meet on Thursday to decide on monetary policy.
Despite recent pessimism or increased caution due to the appearance of new strains of Covid-19, over recent weeks there has been increased ‘market chatter’ regarding the prospect of higher inflation as the virus is brought under control and economic activity rebounds.
Hence, investors will be keen to know what policymakers at the Old Lady on Threadneedle Street make of all that.
Financial markets will likely also be in a bit of a ‘wait and see’ mode ahead of the all important January non-farm payrolls report due out in the States on Friday.
Confidence regarding new government spending measures may have helped forestall further losses in the jobs market, but perhaps not quite as much as some are hoping.
Consensus is calling for a 85,000 rise in hiring after December’s unexpectedly weak print of -140,000.
Nonetheless, a reading on Chinese manufacturing sector activity at the start of the year, which is due out on Sunday may help set the tone in financial markets for the beginning of the week, as well as for the month of February.
Traders will also be an eye out updates regarding the progression of the third Covid-19 wave and for any new developments to adapt vaccines to the new strains and on their roll-out to populations.
So too, whether or not the volatility seen on Wall Street over the previous week continues may also be key to the outcome of February’s week of trading.
Survey results for manufacturing and services sector activity in the UK, euro area and US are all scheduled for release too, on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
Monday February 01
INTERIMS
Hargreaves Lansdown
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
United Utilities Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Mercantile Investment Trust (The)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Auto Sales (US) (20:30)
Construction Spending (US) (15:00)
ISM Manufacturing (US) (15:00)
PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:55)
PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)
PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)
Retail Sales (GER) (07:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
FINALS
Porvair
EGMS
San Leon Energy
AGMS
JpMorgan China Growth & Income , Webis Holdings
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Credit (09:30)
M4 Money Supply (09:30)
Mortgage Approvals (09:30)
PMI Manufacturing (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Merchants Trust 3.65% Cumulative Preference 1, Signature Aviation 5% Cum Prf
Tuesday February 02
INTERIMS
Filtronic, NWF Group
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Auto Sales (US) (20:30)
GDP (Preliminary) (EU) (10:00)
Q4
BP
FINALS
BP, IDOX, Sureserve Group
AGMS
Agronomics Limited, Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, JPMorgan Indian Investment Trust, Scottish Inv Trust
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), SSE, Virgin Money UK
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nationwide House Price Index (07:00)
Wednesday February 03
INTERIMS
Frontier Developments
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ashtead Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
British American Tobacco
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)
Q4
GlaxoSmithKline
GMS
Stobart Group Ltd.
EGMS
DP Eurasia N.V. (DI)
AGMS
Daily Mail and General Trust A (Non.V), Premier Miton Group, Schroder Asia Pacific Fund
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vodafone Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Services (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Britvic
Thursday February 04
INTERIMS
Alumasc Group, Barratt Developments, NCC Group, Renishaw
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Cohort, Johnson Matthey, XPS Pensions Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
British Smaller Companies VCT 2, Downing One VCT , Marwyn Value Investors Limited, TI Fluid Systems
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Greencoat Renewables, Merchants Trust, Picton Property Income Ltd
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
Q3
BT Group
Q4
Nokia OYJ, Nokia OYJ, OMV Petrom S.A. GDR (REG S), Public Joint Stock Company Severstal GDR (Reg S), Royal Dutch Shell ‘A’, Royal Dutch Shell ‘A’, Royal Dutch Shell ‘B’, Unilever
GMS
Hostelworld Group , Microsaic Systems
FINALS
Nokia OYJ, Nokia OYJ, OMV Petrom S.A. GDR (REG S), Royal Dutch Shell ‘A’, Royal Dutch Shell ‘B’, Unilever
EGMS
DCC, Yew Grove Reit
AGMS
Compass Group, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT , Sage Group, Stock Spirits Group , Ten Lifestyle Group , Unicorn AIM VCT , Unicorn AIM VCT
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Compass Group, Cranswick, Watches of Switzerland Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
PMI Construction (09:30)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Gulf Investment Fund, JPMorgan Russian Securities, Titon Holdings, Treatt
Friday February 05
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Aveva Group, Crystal Amber Fund Ltd., Halma, Vodafone Group
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
BMO UK High Income Trust
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)
Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)
Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)
FINALS
Beazley
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Best of the Best, BMO UK High Income Trust B Shares, iEnergizer Ltd.
EGMS
Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV, Smurfit Kappa Group, Total Produce
AGMS
Aberdeen Standard Equity Income Trust , Brewin Dolphin Holdings, Cerillion , Countryside Properties, Egdon Resources, On The Beach Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halifax House Price Index (08:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AJ Bell, Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities , Daily Mail and General Trust A (Non.V), Henderson European Focus Trust, UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company