Thursday preview: NATO/G7/EU meetings, factory and service PMIs take center stage

On Thursday, the market spotlight will be on the outcome of back-to-back talks in NATO, the G7 and the EU council and what they might come up with in terms of further sanctions against Russia.

In this context, IHS Markit will release preliminary results from its Factory and Service Sector Surveys for the Eurozone, UK and US covering the month of March, giving investors a first look at the impact on the economies of the war in Ukraine.

In the case of the United Kingdom, the consensus anticipates only a slight drop in the services PMI from 60.5 in February to 58.0 in March, while that of the industry should drop from 58, 0 to 57.0.

Across the Channel, interest rate announcements in Norway and Switzerland are also expected.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the spotlight will be on weekly jobless claims data and the results of two purchasing manager surveys looking at activity in the U.S. manufacturing and service sectors. in March.

A preliminary reading on durable goods orders in February is also expected.

Thursday March 24

DIVIDEND INSTALLMENT PAYMENT DATE

London Financial and Investment Group, Puma Vct 13

EX-DIVIDEND INTERIM DATE

ADVFN, Close Brothers Group, Craneware, Ferguson, Finsbury Food Group, Fonix Mobile, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, Volution Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

British American Tobacco

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (1:30 p.m.)

Current Account (US) (13:30)

Durable Goods Orders (US) (1:30 p.m.)

Initial Unemployment Claims (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Arbuthnot Banking Group, Arbuthnot Banking Group, Atalaya Mining, Bonhill Group, Bridgepoint Group (Reg S), Eve Sleep PLC, Robinson, Secure Trust Bank, Sopheon, Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd, Venture Life Group, WAG Payment Solutions

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Greggs

AGMS

Blackrock Throgmorton Trust, Gunsynd, Hyundai Motor Company GDR (Reg S), Independent Inv Trust, LG Electronics Inc GDS (Reg S), LPA Group, N4 Pharma, React Group, Rights & Issues Investment Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Jersey Electricity A-shares

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CLS Holdings, Conduit Holdings Limited Com Shs (DI), Glanbia (CDI), IDOX, Kingspan Group (CDI), Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, Nichols, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI), OSB Group, Pearson, Schroders, Schroders (non-voting), XP Power Ltd. (DI)