Friday preview: US unemployment rates to be unveiled

The US is set to release unemployment rate figures on Friday as leaders continue to tackle the country's financial deficit.

The US is set to release unemployment rate figures on Friday as leaders continue to tackle the country's financial deficit.

Lawmakers are expected to announce that 155,000 jobs were added to the economy in December which would be considerably less than is needed to bring down unemployment.

It adds another spanner in the works as the US works through its economic crisis.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans reached a budget deal on Tuesday to avert $600bn in tax hikes and spending cuts, but they face a political showdown over the next two months as the troubles are far from over.

Some argue the deal, which raises taxes for high earners, has done little to curb the budget strains.

The debacle has weighed heavily on the jobs sector as the country tries to recover from its financial struggles. A slump in Asian trading has also slowed down jobs creation.

The US needs to add more than 356,000 jobs each month over the next three years in order to lower unemployment rate to 6%, but analysts say the government is setting its sights too high given its current policies.

EGMs

Great Eastern Energy Corp Ltd. GDR

GMs

London & St lawrence Inv Co.

Sound Oil

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Big Yellow Group

Brown (N.) Group

Castings

Cello Group

City of London Group

Dee Valley Group

Dee Valley Group (Non-Voting)

JD Sports Fashion

Juridica Investments Ltd.

Majestic Wine

Rolls-Royce Holdings

Sainsbury (J)

Slingsby H.C

Tate & Lyle

Value and Income Trust

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Credit (09:30)

M4 Money Supply (09:30)

Mortgage Approvals (09:30)

Official Reserves (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

Trends in Lending (09:30)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

Factory Orders (US) (15:00)

Goods Orders (US) (15:00)

ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)

ISM Services (US) (15:00)

RD