Thursday preview: Non-farm payrolls report, Walmart earnings in focus

(Sharecast News) - The main event on Thursday will be the release of the delayed US non-farm payrolls report for September, along with the unemployment rate and average earnings. Agustina Patti, financial markets strategist at Exness, said the NFP release is expected to show job growth rising from 22,000 to around 50,000, while the unemployment rate is forecast to hold at 4.3%.

"Any signs of labour market fragility would likely strengthen expectations for a December cut and pressure both the dollar and yields," she said. "Conversely, stronger-than-expected figures could offer the greenback a short-term boost and give treasury yields room to rise."

Investors will also be watching out for the latest rate decision from the People's Bank of China, which is expected to leave benchmark lending rates unchanged for the sixth month in a row, along with eurozone construction output data for September.

On the UK corporate front, full-year results are due from Grainger, while half-year results are due from Londonmetric, Mitie, Halma, Johnson Matthey and Liontrust Asset Management.

JD Sports and Breedon will release trading updates.

Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the third-quarter numbers from JD Sports will be key in proving whether trading momentum has genuinely turned a corner.

"Investors will be watching closely for signs of stabilisation in the US market, which has struggled recently due to a weak macroeconomic backdrop, delays in product launches, and intense discounting from competitor," he said.

"Trading in the UK and Europe has also been subdued, with last year's numbers getting a foot up from the men's 2024 Euros. Comparisons on this side of the Atlantic should get easier from here, but there's a lot of pressure to deliver. Meeting full-year guidance will be challenging, and we wouldn't be surprised if the group falls just short of its target."

In the US, Walmart is scheduled to release Q3 earnings, while Warner Music will issue Q4 numbers.

Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said Walmart is expected to report results that are at the top end of forecasts, including a "huge" $177.57bn in revenues for last quarter.

"If Walmart can post strong results, this could calm fears about the strength of the US consumer as we lead up to Thanksgiving and Black Friday next week," she said.

Thursday November 20

INTERIMS

Halma, Investec, Johnson Matthey, Liontrust Asset Management, LondonMetric Property, MHA, Mitie Group, Norcros, XPS Pensions Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Serica Energy

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

3i Infrastructure, B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), Cavendish, DCC (CDI), Kainos Group , Motorpoint Group, National Grid, Record, RS Group, Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust, Tate & Lyle, Vodafone Group, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' Shares, Young & Co's Brewery Non VTG , Yu Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CRH (CDI), Greencoat Renewables (CDI), Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust, Regional REIT Limited NPV, Vaalco Energy, Inc (DI), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.NPV (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (13:30)

Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Q3

Lion Finance Group

GMS

Seeing Machines Ltd. NPV (DI), Valirx

FINALS

Grainger, Tracsis

AGMS

Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust, Close Brothers Group, DP Aircraft I Limited Pref , Mcbride, Origin Enterprises (CDI), Pan African Resources, PZ Cussons, Quantum Helium Limited (DI), Thorpe (F.W.), Wetherspoon (J.D.)

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

JD Sports Fashion

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Manx Financial Group, Moonpig Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BlackRock Greater Europe Inv Trust, Fonix , Volution Group