Week ahead: US employment report, Catalan elections in focus

LONDON (ShareCast) - (ShareCast News) - The coming week will see a raft of economic indicators come out of the US, with the latest reading on US unemployment on Friday chief among them. Although in her post-FOMC meeting press conference Janet Yellen seemingly downgraded the importance of the labour market in the central bank's reaction function, it nevertheless remains a critical report for markets.

Other data due out on the other side of the Pond with the potential to sway capital markets includes a reading on the state of manufacturing in the upper Mid-West, the Chicago Purchasing Managers' Index for September, on Wednesday.

The inflation numbers contained in Monday's release on US personal income and spending for August may also draw some attention.

In the UK, Tuesday will see the Bank of England update on consumer credit and money supply.

Over in the euro area, traders will keep an eye out for the preliminary reading on consumer price inflation and final September data on manufacturing.

On Friday, the Bank of Japan will publish its Tankan survey of short-term business confidence.

Lastly, over the coming weekend voters in the north-eastern Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia will head to the polls. Pro-secession parties are expected to win a majority of the seats in the regional parliament, thanks to the way in which voting circumscriptions are drawn up - granting more than proportional representation to small towns. However, it remains to be seen whether they will garner a majority of the popular vote, some analysts said.

In any case, the vote succinctly summarizes the political risks some countries face as decades-old, when not centuries old, political tensions coincide with post-crisis austerity. Monday 28 September INTERIMS 7Digital Group , Camco Clean Energy, CityFibre Infrastructure Holdings , Everyman Media Group , Flowgroup, GameAccount Network (LSE: GAME.L - news) , GLI Finance Limited (LSE: GLIF.L - news) , Miton Group, Pennant International Group INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE British Smaller Companies VCT 2, Gulf Marine Services, Lloyds Banking Group (Other OTC: LLOBF - news) , New Europe Property Investments QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE Total SA (Paris: FR0000120271 - news) INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Pending Homes Sales (US) (15:00) Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) (13:30) Personal Income (US) (13:30) Personal Spending (US) (13:30) GMS (Taiwan OTC: 6481.TWO - news) MediaZest (LSE: MDZ.L - news) , Redhall Group (LSE: RHL.L - news) FINALS Filtronic (Other OTC: FLTCF - news) , Goldplat (LSE: GDP.L - news) , MJ Gleeson (LSE: GLE.L - news) ANNUAL REPORT Pacific Horizon Inv Trust EGMS Optimal Payments Plc (Other OTC: NVAFF - news) , PJSC Cherkizovo Group GDR (Reg S) AGMS Clipper Logistics (LSE: CLG.L - news) , DQ Entertainment (LSE: DQE.L - news) , Hidong Estate, Max Petroleum (LSE: MXP.L - news) , MediaZest, Private Equity Investor, Zoo Digital Group FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Avation (LSE: AVAP.L - news) , Redcentric Tuesday 29 September INTERIMS Boohoo.com, Crawshaw Group (LSE: CRAW.L - news) , e-Therapeutics, Ergomed (Xetra: 24730915.DE - news) , GLOBO (LSE: GBO.L - news) , Instem (LSE: INS.L - news) , Learning Technologies Group , Outsourcery (LSE: OUT.L - news) , People's Operator (The) , Personal Group Holdings, Premier Technical Services Group , Silence Therapeutics (LSE: SLN.L - news) , Toumaz Limited (LSE: TMZ.L - news) , Venture Life Group, Vernalis INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Croda International (Other OTC: COIHF - news) , Glencore (Amsterdam: GX8.AS - news) , Puma High Income VCT INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Balance of Payments (GER) (07:00) Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00) Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00) Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00) FINALS Earthport (Other OTC: EPCUF - news) , James Halstead (LSE: JHD.L - news) , Mysale Group (Stuttgart: 2MY.SG - news) , Netcall (LSE: NET.L - news) , Revolution Bars Group, SCS Group (LSE: SCS.L - news) , Wolseley (EUREX: WLYH.EX - news) ANNUAL REPORT Haynes Publishing Group, Ibex Global Solutions (LSE: IBEX.L - news) AGMS Arcontech Group (LSE: ARC.L - news) , Downing Four VCT DSO, Downing Four VCT DSO 'A' Shs (Berlin: -OZ8.BE - news) , Downing Four VCT DSO 'B' Shs, Jubilant Energy (LSE: JUB.L - news) , Kodal Minerals (LSE: KOD.L - news) , Meikles Ltd., Mwana Africa (LSE: MWA.L - news) , United Carpets Group, Wizz Air Holdings UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS CBI Distributive Trades Surveys (11:00) Consumer Credit (09:30) M4 Money Supply (09:30) M4 Sterling Lending (09:30) Mortgage Approvals (09:30) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Avarae Global Coins (LSE: AVR.L - news) , BHP Billiton (NYSE: BBL - news) , Solid State (LSE: SOLI.L - news) Wednesday 30 September INTERIMS Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Ltd., Gama Aviation (LSE: HGR8.L - news) , InternetQ (LSE: INTQ.L - news) , Lekoil Ltd (DI (KSE: 003160.KS - news) ), Northbridge Industrial Services (LSE: NBI.L - news) , Saga (Frankfurt: 2S8.F - news) , ServicePower Technologies (LSE: SVR.L - news) INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE 888 Holdings, Aviva (Other OTC: AIVAF - news) 8 3/8% Cumulative Irrd Preference 1, British American Tobacco, Martinco , Northern Electricity Prf, Rights & Issues Inv Trust Income Shares, Sanne Group (LSE: SNN.L - news) , The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE Custodian Reit (LSE: CREI.L - news) , Ediston Property Investment Company, HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd, Imperial Tobacco Group, MedicX Fund Ltd., Premier Energy & Water Trust, Raven Russia Ltd (LSE: RUS.L - news) . Cum Red Pref Shares, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd Pref Shs INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Chicago PMI (US) (14:45) Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30) International Reserves (EU) (11:00) MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00) Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00) Unemployment Rate (GER) (08:55) GMS Empyrean Energy (LSE: EME.L - news) , Tesco FINALS Capital Lease Aviation (LSE: CLA.L - news) SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Hargreaves Lansdown (LSE: HL.L - news) , Premier Energy & Water Trust AGMS AdEPT Telecom (LSE: ADT.L - news) , Angle (LSE: AGL.L - news) , Cambium Global Timberland Ltd., Fastnet Equity (LSE: FAST.L - news) , Fulcrum Utility Services Ltd. (DI), Galileo Resources (Stuttgart: 2GA.SG - news) , Ilika (LSE: IKA.L - news) , Provexis (LSE: PXS.L - news) , Puma High Income VCT , Tricor (LSE: TRIC.L - news) , Vast Resources (LSE: AFCR.L - news) , Vast Resources TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Sainsbury (Amsterdam: SJ6.AS - news) (J) UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Balance of Payments (09:30) Consumer Confidence (09:30) Current Account (09:30) GDP (quarterly national accounts) (09:30) GFK Consumer Confidence (00:05) Index of Services (09:30) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Clipper Logistics , Cohort (LSE: CHRT.L - news) , Downing Four VCT DSO 'D' Shs, First Property Group, Hargreaves Lansdown, International Greetings (LSE: IGR.L - news) , PHSC (LSE: PHSC.L - news) , Stagecoach Group (Other OTC: SAGKF - news) Thursday 01 October INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Amlin (LSE: AML.L - news) , Avesco Group (Other OTC: AVGPF - news) , Churchill China (LSE: CHH.L - news) , General Accident (Prf), Hammerson (Other OTC: HMSNF - news) , HSS Hire Group , Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Novae Group (LSE: NVA.L - news) , Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), Portmeirion Group (LSE: PMP.L - news) , Robinson INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE 32Red, AA , Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Air Partner (LSE: AIP.L - news) , Barr (A.G.), Bodycote (LSE: BOY.L - news) , BrainJuicer Group (LSE: BJU.L - news) , Burford Capital (Other OTC: BRFRF - news) , Capital & Regional (LSE: CAL.L - news) , Cdialogues , Centrica (LSE: CNA.L - news) , Charlemagne Capital Ltd., Fairpoint Group (LSE: FRP.L - news) , Fisher (James) & Sons, Flowtech Fluidpower (LSE: FLO.L - news) , Good Energy Group, Highland Gold Mining Ltd (Other OTC: HGHGF - news) ., Hunters Property , Huntsworth (LSE: HNT.L - news) , IDOX (LSE: IDOX.L - news) , Inmarsat (Other OTC: IMASF - news) , Intertek Group (Other OTC: IKTSF - news) , John Laing Group (Frankfurt: JL0.F - news) , Keywords Studios (LSE: KWS.L - news) , Maven Income & Growth 2 VCT, Morgan Sindall Group, Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets, Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , NAHL Group (LSE: NAH.L - news) , Netplay TV (LSE: NPT.L - news) , Safestyle UK (LSE: SFE.L - news) , Smurfit Kappa Group, Somero Enterprises Inc (LSE: SOM.L - news) . (DI), Stilo International (LSE: STL.L - news) , Trinity Mirror (LSE: TNI.L - news) , XLMedia QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE GlaxoSmithKline (Amsterdam: GO8.AS - news) QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE Albion Technology & General VCT, British Land Company, Investors Capital Trust 'A' Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) , Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Torchmark Corp.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Auto Sales (US) (15:00) PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00) GMS Punch Taverns (Other OTC: PCTVY - news) , Vmoto Limited (LSE: VMT.L - news) (DI), Zoopla Property Group (WI) FINALS Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, Maven Income & Growth 2 VCT AGMS Artemis Alpha Trust, Doric Nimrod Air One Ltd, Doric Nimrod Air Three Limited Red Ord Pref Shs Npv, Nimrod Sea Assets Limited (LSE: NSA.L - news) , Sacoil Holdings (Other OTC: SHDNF - news) (DI) TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS ITE Group (LSE: ITE.L - news) UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS PMI Manufacturing (09:30) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Park Group (LSE: PKG.L - news) , PZ Cussons (LSE: PZC.L - news) FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE Alumasc Group, Eckoh (LSE: ECK.L - news) , Hansard Global (Other OTC: HNRDF - news) , HML Holdings (LSE: HMLH.L - news) , IG Group Holdings, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, Murgitroyd Group (LSE: MUR.L - news) , Smith (DS), United Carpets Group, WYG Friday 02 October INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Aggreko (LSE: AGK.L - news) , Arbuthnot Banking Group, Camellia (LSE: CAM.L - news) , Chime Communications (LSE: CHW.L - news) , Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L - news) , Devro (Other OTC: DEVOY - news) , Elementis (LSE: ELM.L - news) , Fyffes (LSE: FFY.L - news) , Greencore Group (LSE: GNC.L - news) , Greggs (Stuttgart: 41G1.SG - news) , InterContinental Hotels Group, International Personal Finance (LSE: IPF.L - news) , Irish Continental Group Units, Meggitt (Other OTC: MEGGF - news) , Michael Page International (Other OTC: MPGPF - news) , Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (LSE: MLC.L - news) , Regus (Other OTC: RGSJF - news) , SEGRO (Other OTC: SEGXF - news) , Shire Plc (Xetra: S7E.DE - news) , St James's Place, Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.L - news) INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00) Retail Sales (GER) (07:00) ANNUAL REPORT Progility SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Michael Page International AGMS Abbey (LSE: ABBY.L - news) , Atlantis Japan Growth Fund Ltd., Foresight 4 VCT, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Electrocomponents (LSE: ECM.L - news) , Tate & Lyle (LSE: TATE.L - news) UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS PMI Construction (09:30) FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Carclo (LSE: CAR.L - news) , Micro Focus International (Other OTC: MCFUF - news) , Pennon Group (Other OTC: PEGRF - news) , Poundland Group (Other OTC: PDLDF - news) , TP5 VCT, TP5 VCT 'B' Shares