Thursday preview: ECB, Aviva in the spotlight

(Sharecast News) - The market spotlight on Thursday will be on the European Central Bank.

Consensus is that rate-setters in Frankfurt will stay put on policy, but investors are keen to see if it lowers its inflation forecasts which some economists believe could pave the way for rate cuts towards mid-2024.

In the U.S., investors will be waiting on reports covering weekly jobless claims, foreign trade in January, and fourth quarter labour productivity and unit labour costs.

Also due out, overnight, are data covering Chinese foreign trade and foreign exchange reserves in February.

German factory orders data for January may also garner attention.

On home shores, at 0700 GMT mortgage lender Halifax will publish its house price index for last month.

In the corporate arena, Aviva is expected to report full-year operating profits of between £1.42-1.45bn, as per the life insurer's own guidance.

UBS analyst Nasib Ahmed meanwhile believes the firm may issue fresh guidance for own funds, cash generation and - possibly - costs.

In the case of cash generation, Ahmed is expecting Aviva to guide towards over £6bn by 2026, versus the consensus on £5.8bn.

He is also anticipating a £300m share buyback announcement.

Thursday 7 March

FINALS

Aviva, Tyman, Coats Group, Entain, TT Electronics, Harbour Energy, ITV, Admiral Group, Melrose Industries, Just Group, Beazley, Rentokil Initial, Elementis, Nexus Infrastructure, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Robert Walters

INTERIMS

Darktrace, Brooks Macdonald Group, Kier Group

AGMs

Asia Strategic Holdings Limited NPV (DI), Ct Uk Capital and Income Investment Trust, Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust

GMs

XPS Pensions Group

ANNUAL REPORT

Allianz Technology Trust

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Rights & Issues Investment Trust, Safestore Holdings, Athelney Trust, Woodside Energy Group Ltd NPV (DI), Rio Tinto, Law Debenture Corp., Standard Chartered

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Temple Bar Inv Trust, SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust, BHP Group Limited NPV (DI), Renishaw, JPMorgan Global Markets Emerging Income Trust, HSBC Holdings, Ct Uk Capital and Income Investment Trust, Colefax Group, Thames Ventures Vct 2 DSO D Shs, Redcentric, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, South32 Limited (DI), Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Crown Place VCT, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Abrdn DIversified Income And Growth, PZ Cussons, Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltd, Develop North, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, Personal Assets Trust, Utilico Emerging Markets Ltd (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI), Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Assura, RM Infrastructure Income, Energean

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Chenavari Toro Income Fund Limited NPV

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Halifax House Price Index (07:00)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Factory Orders (GER) (07:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Balance of Trade (US) (13:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)