The Week Ahead
Week commencing 2 February
Chris Beauchamp's insight
It promises to be a busy week. United States (US) payrolls are published this week, along with rate decisions from Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the eurozone. Also released are the monthly US ISM purchasing managers' index (PMI) and ones from China. Earnings are in abundance too, notably from tech heavyweights Alphabet, Amazon and Palantir, plus Disney, while in the UK GSK, Shell, Vodafone and Anglo American are among the companies reporting.
Economic reports
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Weekly view
1.45am – China RatingDog manufacturing PMI (January): index expected to rise to 50.5 from 50.1. Markets to watch: China indices, CNH crosses
3pm – US ISM manufacturing PMI (January): forecast to rise to 48.2 from 47.9. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3.30am – RBA rate decision: rates expected to rise to 3.85% from 3.6%. Markets to watch: AUD crosses
1.45am – China RatingDog services PMI (January): expected to fall to 51.5 from 52. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
10am – eurozone inflation (January, flash): prices expected to have risen 2% YoY, up from 1.9% in December, and fall 0.2% MoM, from a 0.2% rise. Core inflation forecast to hold at 2.3%. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
1.15pm – US ADP employment report (January): 35,000 jobs expected to have been created, down from 41,000. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – US ISM services PMI (January): index expected to fall to 54.3 from 54.4. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 30 January): previous week saw stockpiles fall by 2.3 million barrels. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
12pm – BoE rate decision: rates expected to be held at 3.75%, but watch for more MPC members voting for a cut. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.15pm – ECB rate decision: rates expected to be held at 2.15%. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
1.30pm – US non-farm payrolls (January): 40,000 jobs forecast, from 50,000 a month earlier. Unemployment rate expected to rise to 4.5%. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
1.30pm – Canada employment data (January): unemployment rate expected to hold at 6.8%. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
3pm – Michigan consumer sentiment (February, preliminary): expected to fall to 53 from 56.4. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – Canada Ivey PMI (January): forecast to fall to 51.5 from 51.9. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
Monday
1.45am – China RatingDog manufacturing PMI (January): index expected to rise to 50.5 from 50.1. Markets to watch: China indices, CNH crosses
3pm – US ISM manufacturing PMI (January): forecast to rise to 48.2 from 47.9. Markets to watch: USD crosses
Tuesday
3.30am – RBA rate decision: rates expected to rise to 3.85% from 3.6%. Markets to watch: AUD crosses
Wednesday
1.45am – China RatingDog services PMI (January): expected to fall to 51.5 from 52. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
10am – eurozone inflation (January, flash): prices expected to have risen 2% YoY, up from 1.9% in December, and fall 0.2% MoM, from a 0.2% rise. Core inflation forecast to hold at 2.3%. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
1.15pm – US ADP employment report (January): 35,000 jobs expected to have been created, down from 41,000. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – US ISM services PMI (January): index expected to fall to 54.3 from 54.4. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 30 January): previous week saw stockpiles fall by 2.3 million barrels. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
Thursday
12pm – BoE rate decision: rates expected to be held at 3.75%, but watch for more MPC members voting for a cut. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.15pm – ECB rate decision: rates expected to be held at 2.15%. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
Friday
1.30pm – US non-farm payrolls (January): 40,000 jobs forecast, from 50,000 a month earlier. Unemployment rate expected to rise to 4.5%. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
1.30pm – Canada employment data (January): unemployment rate expected to hold at 6.8%. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
3pm – Michigan consumer sentiment (February, preliminary): expected to fall to 53 from 56.4. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – Canada Ivey PMI (January): forecast to fall to 51.5 from 51.9. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
Company announcements
Dividends
FTSE ex-dividend dates (5th February 2026):
FTSE 100: Reckitt Benckiser (2 Feb special dividend)
FTSE 250: Avon, Paragon Banking, Bluefield Solar
Index adjustments
|
Monday 2 February |
Tuesday 3 February |
Wednesday 4 February |
Thursday 5 February |
Friday 6 February |
Monday 9 February |
| FTSE 100 | ||||||
| Australia 200 | ||||||
| Wall Street | 1.6 | 14.5 | ||||
| US 500 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.34 | 0.72 | 0.46 |
| Nasdaq 100 | 1.88 | 0.99 | ||||
| Netherlands 25 | ||||||
| US Russell 2000 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| China H-Shares | ||||||
| Japan 225 | ||||||
| Hong Kong HS50 | ||||||
| South Africa 40 | ||||||
| France 40 | ||||||
| Stoxx 600 |
* Please note these can change without notice
1 Dividend adjustments due to be posted on a bank holiday will usually be posted on the previous working day
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