Thursday preview: US jobs data, OPEC meeting in the spotlight

(Sharecast News) - Investors' focus on Thursday will be on the US labour market.

At 1330 BST, the Department of Labor will release weekly unemployment claims figures and at 1230 BST consultancy Challenger will publish its latest survey data on US layoff announcements covering the month of November.

In parallel, OPEC energy ministers will be meeting to decide on their output policy.

Across the Channel, at 0700 BST Germany's ministry of finance will release factory orders figures for October, followed nu euro area retail sales data for that same month at 1000 BST.

Thursday 05 December

INTERIMS

Baltic Classifieds Group, Carclo, SDI Group , Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited , Smith (DS)

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

British American Inv Trust, Burford Capital NPV (DI)

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Babcock International Group, British Land Company, Caledonia Investments, CMC Markets, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV, Intermediate Capital Group, Johnson Matthey, Mercia Asset Management, Next, Pets at Home Group , Speedy Hire, Supreme , Telecom Plus, VP

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Energean , Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

GMS

CAP-XX Limited, CAP-XX Limited, Home Reit , MetalNRG

FINALS

AJ Bell

EGMS

Air China Ltd.

AGMS

Doric Nimrod Air Three Limited Red Ord Pref Shs Npv, Doric Nimrod Air Two Ltd Pref Shs Npv, Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust, Global Petroleum Ltd., New Star Investment Trust, Solgold, Volta Finance Limited, YouGov, Zanaga Iron Ore Co. Ltd (DI)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balfour Beatty

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (07:00)

PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Galliford Try, Renishaw

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Aeci 5 1/2% Prf, Asia Dragon Trust , Croma Security Solutions Group, Ecclesiastical Insurance 8.625% Non-Cum Irr Pref Shares, General Accident 'A', London Finance & Investment Group