Wednesday preview: Service sector health check
Wednesday looks like being another quiet day for corporate announcements, so the focus will once again be on the economy.
Wednesday looks like being another quiet day for corporate announcements, so the focus will once again be on the economy.
The British Retail Consortium will release its Shop Price Index for March which is expected to show 1.5% increase, after advancing 1.2% in February.
The next instalment of Purchasing Managers' Index readings covers the Services sector, and is tipped to have dipped to 53.4 in March from 53.8 in February, although it is worth noting that any value above 50 indicates growth.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

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
The first Wednesday of the month will see the European Central Bank (ECB) announce its interest rate decision and, more importantly, the ECB President Mario Draghi will give the rune readers some exercise in his afternoon press conference.
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Ashmore Group, Waterman Group
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Animalcare Group, Begbies Traynor Group, GETECH Group, Octopus Eclipse VCT 1, Octopus Eclipse VCT 3, Octopus Eclipse VCT 4, Plexus Holdings, St Ives, Wolseley
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
XP Power Ltd. (DI)
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Schroder Income Growth Fund
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)
ISM Services (US) (15:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (GER) (08:55)
GMS
Rock Solid Images
FINALS
Burford Capital Ltd.
ANNUAL REPORT
St James's Place
SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
DP World Limited, Octopus Eclipse VCT 1, Octopus Eclipse VCT 3, Octopus Eclipse VCT 4, Savills
AGMS
Manroy, RCM Technology Trust, Telecity Group, Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri AS GDR (Reg S)
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Printing.com
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRC Shop Price Index (00:00)
PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
St. Modwen Properties
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
4Imprint Group, Acencia Debt Strategies Ltd., All Leisure Group, Amino Technologies, Amlin, Bodycote, Dialight, DP World Limited, Herald Inv Trust, HGCapital Trust, Interserve, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, JPMorgan American Inv Trust, Mam Funds, Motivcom, Pearson, Phoenix Group Holdings (DI), Promethean World, Rentokil Initial, Savills, Stanley Gibbons Group
-
Who is the richest person in the world?
The top five richest people in the world have a combined net worth of $825 billion. Who takes the crown for the richest person in the world?
By Vaishali Varu Published
-
Top 10 stocks with highest growth over past decade - from Nvidia, Microsoft to Netflix, which companies made you the most money?
We reveal the 10 global companies with the biggest returns since 2013. One firm has posted an astonishing 9,870% return, meaning a £1,000 investment would now be worth almost £82,000.
By Ruth Emery Published