The coming week will see the economic data flow ease up, although there are plenty of potentially market-moving events to watch out for. Foremost amongst those will be the monthly US employment report on Friday. It comes as investors are watching to see if consumption holds up Stateside following the elimination of the payroll-tax cut and given the current moderate uncertainty surrounding the effects of 'sequestration.'

Nearly as important as the above, if not much more so, on Thursday investors will be awaiting the results of the latest policy meetings of the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB). Neither central bank is expected to make a move, but in the aftermath of the release of the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee´s (MPC´s) last meeting the chances of a move later in the year have increased, Investec believes.

For their part, and as regards the MPC´s meeting, over at Barclays they are of the opinion that "the unexpected drop in the manufacturing PMI is probably not enough to tip the balance towards more QE next week, but a weak services PMI could do the trick."

The latest remarks out of the ECB have also been rather dovish of late. Traders will be watching to see if the latest bout of uncertainty in Italy left its footprint on the ECB Governing Council´s policy bias. The Eurozone´s monetary authority may use its latest growth and inflation forecasts to signal that a cut in interest rates is now more likely. Certainly, Credit Suisse at least sees that possibility.

Data on any ECB weekly bond purchases may also be worth watching out for, indicate analysts at Digital Look.

On Tuesday China will convene the first annual session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), which may shed light on the country´s economic strategy for 2013.

Japan and Australia will also be holding their own rate meetings.

The Eurogroup - as the grouping of the Eurozone´s finance ministers is known - will also meet on Tuesday, with the latest events in Italy and a possible 'bail-out' for Cyprus expected to be high on the agenda. As well, the extension of some countries' budget deficit targets may be discussed.

Lastly, some investors will also be anxiously awaiting a barrage of economic statistics which are slated for release next Saturday, in the People´s Republic of China.

HSBC will publish its annual results on Monday, March 4th. Credit Suisse is forecasting that the lender will report 'clean' earnings per share (EPS) of 102c, after adjusting for a number of exceptional items. There will be focus on cost savings targets - although the Swiss broker expects little on this front for now - but the key will be commentary on capital build and return. The sale of its operations in Panama, the 46th sale/closure by the bank, should see the lender bag a capital gain of approximately $1.4bn. When HSBC hits a fully loaded Basel 3 ratio of 12% these analysts believe that it will look to step-up capital return to investors. Its capital ratio should have ended the year at 10.3% and a dividend pay-out of 45c is forecast, adds the Swiss broker.

Analysts at Panmure Gordon expect Serco to maintain a positive stance, although a mixed trading picture is anticipated, with the US continuing to face revenue and margin pressures, while the global BPO generation will be a key focus of these results. "Our assumptions look to be more conservative vs. consensus, reflecting our view that the global BPO business may well change the dynamics here," they explain. However, they are quick to add that the firm is well positioned to deliver above-average organic growth, and should continue to improve its margins.

Monday March 04

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Stavert Zigomala

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Construction (EU) (09:00)
PMI Construction (GER) (08:55)
Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)

GMS
Datatec Ltd. (DI), Redstone

FINALS
Amlin, British Polythene Industries, CLS Holdings, FBD Holdings, HSBC Holdings, Intertek Group, Keller Group, Sagentia Group, Ultra Electronics Holdings

IMSS
City of London Investment Group

AGMS
Emblaze Ltd., Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, JPMorgan Russian Securities

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Construction (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Fenner, Renew Holdings

Tuesday March 05

INTERIMS
Abcam, Interior Services Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
ISM Non-Manufacturing (US) (15:00)
ISM Services (US) (15:00)
PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)
PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (GER) (08:55)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
ECOFIN meeting (EU) (08:00)

Q3
Ashtead Group

Q4
OAO Severstal GDR (Reg S)

FINALS
4Imprint Group, Breedon Aggregates Ltd., Johnson Service Group, Macfarlane Group, Meggitt, Menzies(John), MHP SA GDR (Reg S), Michael Page International, Moneysupermarket.com Group, OAO Severstal GDR (Reg S), Pace, Paddy Power, Regus, Rotork, Serco Group, Total Produce, Tullett Prebon, Wood Group (John), Zotefoams

AGMS
Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Breedon Aggregates Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRC Sales Monitor (00:01)
Official Reserves (09:30)
PMI Composite (09:30)
PMI Services (09:30)

Wednesday March 06

INTERIMS
Hangar 8

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Cohort, Stagecoach Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Alumasc Group, BHP Billiton, Centaur Media, Clinigen Group, Colefax Group, Darty, Gleeson (M J) Group, Hansard Global, Hargreaves Services, Hays, JPMorgan Mid Cap Inv Trust, Jupiter Primadona Growth Trust, Kier Group, Oxford Instruments, Park Group, Renishaw, Ricardo, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares, Utilico Investments Ltd (DI)

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Duet Real Estate Finance Ltd, Premier Energy & Water Trust, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beige Book Fed Survey (US) (19:00)
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
GDP (1st release) (EU) (10:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

Q4
Endeavor International Corp.

FINALS
Admiral Group, Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Belgravium Technologies, Chime Communications, Costain Group, Dignity, Endeavor International Corp., Fisher (James) & Sons, Legal & General Group, Lookers, Management Consulting Group, Melrose Industries, MoneySwap, Sportech, SQS Software Quality Systems AG, Tarsus Group, Unite Group

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Qannas Investments Ltd, Utilico Investments Ltd (DI)

AGMS
CQS Rig Finance Fund Ltd.

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Baronsmead VCT 4, BlackRock World Mining Trust, Brewin Dolphin Holdings, CRH, Direct Line Insurance Group, Domino Printing Sciences, Electronic Data Processing, Jupiter Fund Management , Lavendon Group, Rio Tinto, Sanderson Group, Spirent Communications, St. Modwen Properties, SVM Global Fund, SWP Group, Town Centre Securities, TUI Travel

Thursday March 07

INTERIMS
IndigoVision Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Penna Consulting

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bloomberg Consumer Confidence (US) (13:45)
Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)
Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)
Factory Orders (GER) (11:00)
Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)
Spanish Treasury debt auction (09:45)

Q4
Shin Kong Financial Holdings Co Ltd GDR (Reg S), X5 Retail Group NV GDR (Reg S)

FINALS
Aviva, Avocet Mining, Balfour Beatty, Cineworld Group, Clarkson, Cobham, Communisis, Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Futura Medical, Fyffes, Grafton Group Units, H&T Group, Hongkong Land Holding Ltd. (Sing.Reg), Hunting, IMI, Inmarsat, Irish Continental Group Units, Mandarin Oriental International (Singapore), Nichols, Novae Group, Schroders, Schroders (Non-Voting), Shin Kong Financial Holdings Co Ltd GDR (Reg S), SIG, Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Standard Life, X5 Retail Group NV GDR (Reg S)

ANNUAL REPORT
Alpha UK Multi Property Trust, X5 Retail Group NV GDR (Reg S)

AGMS
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. GDR (Reg S), Electra Private Equity, LPA Group, Silverdell

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Decision (12:00)
ECB Interest Rate (EU) (12:45)
Halifax House Price Index (09:30)

Friday March 08

INTERIMS
Marshalls

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
CPL Resources, Daejan Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
Boeing Co, Lilly (Eli) & Co

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Industrial Production (GER) (11:00)
Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)
Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)
Wholesale Inventories (US) (15:00)
Export-Import data (China)

FINALS
Aga Rangemaster Group, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg), Jardine Strategic Holdingd Ltd. (Singapore)

ANNUAL REPORT
Senior

IMSS
SThree

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Photo-Me International

EGMS
Carpathian, Talvivaara Mining Company (CDI)

AGMS
BlackRock Commodities Income Inv Trust

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust, Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Pressure Technologies, Sage Group, Treatt

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
KPMG/REC report on Jobs

Related share prices
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) share price
Serco Group (SRP) share price