Wednesday preview: All eyes on UK services PMI on Wednesday morning
Ashtead Group
5,606.00p
10:50 23/04/24
Financial Services
14,361.36
10:49 23/04/24
FTSE 100
8,049.01
10:50 23/04/24
FTSE 250
19,698.25
10:50 23/04/24
FTSE 350
4,423.15
10:50 23/04/24
FTSE All-Share
4,377.43
10:50 23/04/24
Genus
1,734.00p
10:50 23/04/24
Hargreaves Lansdown
750.60p
10:50 23/04/24
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
21,848.54
10:50 23/04/24
Support Services
10,620.62
10:50 23/04/24
A crucial gauge of the UK economy, the services purchasing managers index (PMI), is published at 09.30 on Wednesday, with economists predicting a slide to 58.5 from the 59.1 recorded last month.
Services is the main contributor to UK gross domestic product, with the sector employing around four-fifths of the labour force.
"With the purchasing managers reporting a sharper than expected slowdown in manufacturing activity in August, particular attention will now be paid on the survey for the dominant services sector," said economist Howard Archer of IHS.
"This is expected to show greater resilience, but if it is weaker, it will fuel belief that the economy is likely to see some easing in GDP growth in the third quarter from the 0.8% quarter-on-quarter rate seen in both the first and second quarters."
Also due on Wednesday is UK house price data from Halifax, which according to consensus of expectations should show a fall to 0.1% month-on-month rise from the 1.4% the month before, with a 9.8% year-on-year rise forecast from the 10.2% figure last time.
China's services PMI, Eurozone GDP, Eurozone retail sales, US factory orders and US Beige Book are also due on Wednesday.
Company news: Hargreaves, Ashtead, Genus
Financial services group Hargreaves Lansdown is reporting its preliminary results, expected to show strong growth in assets under management of 32% to £48.1bn driven by better markets and strong net inflows. Earnings per share of 34.45p are expected.
Analysts at Numis note market concerns about the impact of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) on pricing and the associated impact of competition, but believe this has "been overdone".
Peel Hunt pointed out that consensus forecasts have been moving lower and has fallen by 3% over the last month.
"This caution partly reflects the uncertainty caused by the new RDR pricing environment - in addition to the continuing drag from the low interest rate environment - a key focus will be the impact of the revised charging structure over the last quarter."
On Ashtead's first quarter update, Peel Hunt predicted "continued momentum" after the company's in-line full year results in June, with further strong volume and yield improvements as well as a robust A Plant performance.
However, on a reported basis there is a 10% currency drag on the Sunbelt US earnings, which represent 93% of group operating profits, and therefore the broker said it expects reported pre-tax profit up 15% to £114m.
The broker also has a note on corporate client Genus, which is due to put out full year results, forecasting adjusted pre-tax profit of £42.0m, down from £45.6m the prior year, as the sector outlook improves.
"It has been a tough year for Genus with a significant currency headwind and the impact of PEDv [porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus] in North America with China lower due to timing of stockings and low pig prices."
Wednesday 03 September
FINALS
A&J Mucklow Group, Hargreaves Lansdown
INTERIMS
Belgravium Technologies, Biome Technologies, Goals Soccer Centres, Marimedia (DI), Petards Group, SQS Software Quality Systems AG
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Safestore Holdings
Q1
Ashtead Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)
Official Reserves (09:30)
PMI Services (09:30)
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Man Group, St. Modwen Properties
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
888 Holdings, Aggreko, Amino Technologies, Amlin, Arbuthnot Banking Group, ARM Holdings, Avesco Group, Baronsmead VCT 5, BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, British Smaller Companies VCT 2, Camellia, Capital & Counties Properties , Capital & Regional, Carillion, Centamin (DI), Cineworld Group, Dialight, esure Group, FBD Holdings, Foxtons Group , Fyffes, Glencore , Grafton Group Units, Greggs, Hellermanntyton Group, Inspired Energy, International Personal Finance, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, John Laing Infrastructure Fund Ltd, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Kingspan Group, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Michael Page International, National Express Group, Novae Group, Paddy Power, Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), Polymetal International, Portmeirion Group, PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Regus, Robert Walters, RTC Group, Serco Group, Shire Plc, Stock Spirits Group , TUI Travel, UTV Media, Xaar, Zotefoams
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd, XP Power Ltd. (DI)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Auto Sales (US) (15:00)
Beige Book Fed Survey (US) (19:00)
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
Goods Orders (US) (15:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)
PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (GER) (08:55)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
esure Group, Foxtons Group , HGCapital Trust
AGMS
Ashtead Group
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Betfair Group, BHP Billiton, Iona Environmental VCT, Iona Environmental VCT 'A' Shares, Iona Environmental Vct 'B' Shares, Micro Focus International, Pinewood Shepperton
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