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(Sharecast News) - The economic calendar on Thursday will be very light.
However, the latest weekly unemployment claims data due out in the US may receive even more attention than usual in the wake of the soft July non-farm payrolls report published two days before.
Consensus is for a decline from the 249,000 initial jobless claims seen during the week before to 240,000 over the seven day stretch that ended on 3 August.
"With hardly any data coming in today, markets only have the jobless claims to gaze at," analysts at Rabobank said.
"However, after last Friday's weak labour report that indicated a cooling labour market, markets are likely to look for signs of further weakening. As such, while jobless claims usually do not have the potential to really move markets, higher than expected (continuing) jobless claims could spark renewed fears of a hard landing. With that in mind a lack of data for today does not necessarily imply a dull trading day."
Also scheduled, for 1530 BST and 1730 BST, were US Treasury auctions for four-week bills and 30-year bonds, respectively.
In company news, Beazley will update investors will release its first half results.
UBS analyst Will Hardcastle was anticipating interim profit before tax of $454m, putting him 8% ahead of the consensus.
The headline combined operating ratio for the half was pegged at 81.2% or 20 basis points ahead of the consensus.
Thursday 08 August
INTERIMS
Beazley, Derwent London, Entain, Harbour Energy , Helios Towers , Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hostelworld Group , Impact Healthcare Reit , IRISH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES REIT P IRISH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ORD SHS, Lancashire Holdings Limited, Lancashire Holdings Limited, Mears Group, Serco Group, Serco Group, Spirax Group, TI Fluid Systems, TT Electronics
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Safestore Holdings
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Avon Protection, Baronsmead Second Venture Trust, Baronsmead Venture Trust, Foxtons Group , Fresnillo, IMI, Inchcape, Informa, Jupiter Fund Management , Man Group, Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, Maven Income and Growth VCT 5, Melrose Industries, NATWEST GROUP, Pearson, Rentokil Initial, SEGRO, Standard Chartered, Taylor Maritime Investments Limited NPV, Vesuvius
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
BP, Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV, Picton Property Income Ltd, Unilever
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Wholesales Inventories (US) (15:00)
Q2
Allianz Technology Trust
GMS
Arecor Therapeutics
FINALS
Burford Capital NPV (DI)
AGMS
Harvest Minerals Limited (DI), Marks Electrical Group, Oracle Power , TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
RICS Housing Market Survey (00:01)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ninety One
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Ashtead Group, BT Group, Calculus VCT , Creightons, CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV Euro, CVC Income & Growth Limited NPV GBP, Halfords Group, Lindsell Train Inv Trust, Monks Inv Trust, National World , Renold, Rockwood Strategic, Speedy Hire
