Interest rate cuts will be a hot topic in the coming week as the Bank of England and US Federal Reserve hold their first meetings since March, while more company results roll in.
Results are due from London-listed names such as IAG, Next, Trainline and JD Wetherspoon.
Monday 5 May
A bank holiday means markets are not operating in the UK on Monday.
US earnings: Ford Motor Co, Palantir Technologies
Tuesday 6 May
London is expected to ease back into the week after the May bank holiday, with some services sector data and new car sales figures providing some grist to the market's mill.
The US balance of trade should do likewise for Donald Trump's social media account.
Announcement due
Trading updates: International Workplace Group, Kosmos Energy
Finals: Facilities by ADF, Huddled Group
Overseas earnings: Ball Corp (premarket), Advanced Micro Devices, Rivian Automotive (after)
AGMs: 88 Energy, Caledonia Mining Corporation, Plus500, Temple Bar Investment Trust
Economic announcements: PMI Services (UK, US, EU, CHN), New Car Sales (UK), Balance of Trade (US),
Wednesday 7 May
Wednesday brings the first Federal Reserve interest rate decision since Donald Trump’s recent public criticisms of the central bank’s chair, Jerome Powell, with his threats to replace him spooking markets last month. Economists and analysts believe Powell will resists for now...read more
In company news, Trainline PLC (LSE:TRN) results, analysts said investors will not be looking at arrivals but the departures board, as the headline numbers are largely known and the outlook is the key...read more
JD Wetherspoon PLC (LSE:JDW) shares have rebounded in recent weeks following a sharp decline in the wake of its half-year results...read more
Announcement due:
Trading updates: Burford Capital, Flutter Entertainment, Georgia Capital, MaxCyte, Wetherspoon (JD)
Interims: Smiths News
Finals: 1Spatial, Card Factory, Trainline
Overseas earnings: Barrick Gold, Disney, Fiverr International, Novo Nordisk, Uber Technologies (all premarket), AMC Entertainment, ARM Holdings, Occidental Petroleum (after)
AGMs: Airea, Aston Martin Lagonda, Barclays, Franchise Brands, Hostelworld Group, NCC Group, Primary Health Properties, Rentokil Initial, RHI Magnesita NV, RM, Synectics, Tritax Big Box REIT
Economic announcements: Construction PMI (UK), Producer Prices Index (EU), Factory Orders (GER), Retail Sales (EU), MBA Mortgage Applications (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US
Thursday 8 May
It is the Bank of England's turn on Thursday, its first meeting since holding rates steady at 4.5% at the March meeting of the monetary policy committee.
The May meeting is widely expected to see rates cut to 4.25%, with economists and analysts at odds over whether the MPC will leave the door open to more cuts in coming months or play their cards close to their chest...read more
After a bruising run for European travel stocks, some analysts have softened their stance on the likes of Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC (LSE:IHG) ahead of the operator of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza's quarterly results...read more
Announcement due:
Trading updates: Derwent London, Harbour Energy, Helios Towers, IMI, InterContinental Hotels, Mondi, Rathbones Group, S4 Capital, TBC Bank
Finals: Lords Group, Polarean Imaging
Overseas earnings: Anheuser-Busch Inbev, ConocoPhillips, Shopify, Takeda Pharmaceutical (both premarket), Cloudflare, Coinbase Global, Illumina, Pinterest (after)
Ex-dividends to reduce FTSE 100 by:
AGMs: Aberdeen Group, Abrdn Asian Income Fund, Antofagasta, Balfour Beatty, Cairn Homes, Centrica, Cirata, Fidelity European Trust, Grafton Group, Gym Group, Harbour Energy, Indivior, InterContinental Hotels Group, Irish Continental Group, Jupiter Fund Management, Mondi, Mony Group, OSB Group, Personal Group Holdings, Rathbones Group, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Rosebank Industries, TBC Bank Group, Uniphar, Wickes Group
Economic announcements: Bank of England Policy Decision (UK), Halifax House Price Index (UK), Balance of Trade (GER), Industrial Production (GER), Initial Jobless Claims
Friday 9 May
British Airways owner IAG (LSE:IAG) brings up the ladder on the week with its
Announcement due:
Trading updates: International Consolidated Airlines Group
Overseas earnings: Honda Motor Company, Ubiquiti
AGMs: Admiral, Chesnara, Man Group, Permanent TSB Group, Rightmove
Economic announcements: Balance of Trade (CHN)