Friday preview: Emis in rude health

Emis, which provides doctor's surgery software, is expected to reveal a chunky increase in profit before tax on Friday.

Market consensus is for profits of £21.9m on revenue of £73.1m. Earnings per share are tipped to rise to 27.12p, paving the way for the full year dividend to be increased, perhaps to 12.16p if investment analysts who follow the firm are to be believed.

In January, the healthcare software supplier said trading in 2011 had been in line with management expectations.

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A further 207 GP practices went live with the firm's EMIS Web product in the second half of the year, giving the group solid momentum. At the year end there were 360 GP live practices and 147 extended primary care organisations using EMIS Web, so analysts will be looking to see how much these numbers have grown.

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Penna Consulting, Utilico Investments Ltd (DI)

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Barclays, Carnival, M Winkworth

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Capacity Utilisation (US) (16:15)

Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Industrial Production (US) (16:15)

U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

FINALS

EMIS Group, Espirito Santo Financial Group SA

AGMS

Brunner Inv Trust, Hyundai Motor Company GDR (Reg S), KT Corp. ADR, LG Chem Ltd. GDS (Reg S), LG Electronics Inc. GDS (Reg S), Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (ATT) GDR (Reg S)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Anglogold Ashanti Ltd., Catlin Group Ltd.

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