Friday preview: Robert Walters, Caledonia, US jobs

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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