Profit warnings last month from rivals Michael Page and SThree suggest that Friday's trading statement from recruitment firm Robert Walters might not be for the squeamish.
The consolation for holders of the shares is that a fourth-quarter slump in recruitment is already built into the price.
Blue-blooded investment firm Caledonia issues an interim management statement on Friday and, as ever, the emphasis will not be on how well the firm's investments have done in absolute terms but how well they have done versus the FT All-Share index, the company benchmark.
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The firm just about outperformed the All-Share between April and September, which will be scant consolation for shareholders who saw the net asset value per share slide by 13.4% over the period.
In the final quarter of 2011 the All-Share perked up, so there may be cheerier news for Caledonia shareholders on Friday.
On the economic front, all eyes will be on the release of US non-farm payrolls data for December in the afternoon.
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Brown (N.) Group, Castings, Cello Group, Dee Valley Group, Dee Valley Group (Non-Voting), Hill & Smith Holdings, Intermediate Capital Group, Investment Company, JD Sports Fashion, Majestic Wine, Management Consulting Group, May Gurney Integrated Services, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Norcros, Northern 2 VCT, Northern Investors Co, Plastics Capital, Sainsbury (J), Tate & Lyle, Value and Income Trust
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
British Assets Trust, Schlumberger Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Business Climate Indicator (EU) (10:00)
Economic Sentiment Indicator (EU) (10:00)
Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)
Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)
Unemployment Rate (EU) (10:00)
Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)
GMS
Anglo American
IMSS
Caledonia Investments
SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
British Empire Securities & General Trust, Latchways
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Robert Walters
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Car Registrations (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Avation, British Empire Securities & General Trust, Netcall, Noble Investments (UK), Origin Enterprises
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