Friday looks set to be a fairly quiet affair on the corporate results front, with just AIM-listed media firm System1 Group PLC (LON:SYS1) scheduled to report its final results.
Most eyes will be on the economic data instead, with the latest US jobs report due for release alongside the UK May manufacturing PMI index and US consumer spending numbers.
US jobs in focus again
As always, the first Friday of the new month – and in this case the first day of June – will see the release of the latest US payrolls report, the main economic focus for the week.
In April, US jobs growth was slower than expected, with non-farm payrolls up 164,000, against forecasts for 190,000, although the unemployment rate still fell to 3.9%, the first time it has dipped below 4% since 2000.
The US has added an average of roughly 190,000 jobs per month over the past year and about 208,000 per month in the past three months, and economists are expecting that rate to have continued in May.
However, whatever the number, it is unlikely to put the Federal Reserve off from hiking US interest rates once again, with a June move expected following the recent publication of minutes from the central bank policy committee’s last meeting.
Significant events expected:
Friday June 1:
Finals: System1 Group PLC (LON:SYS1)
Economic data: UK manufacturing PMI index; US non-farm payrolls, US consumer spending; US manufacturing index