Friday preview: Travis Perkins, Computacenter

On Friday, builders' merchant Travis Perkins issues an interim management statement, and Panmure Gordon is expecting the group to have made further progress, despite tough market conditions.

The broker thinks the key issues will be: Spending outlook - public versus private and housing vs commercial; Weather, Jubilee/Olympics disruption; Competitive environment post corporate activity in sector.

The same broker has cast its eye over the third quarter (Q3) update from Computacenter, noting that the interim results released at the end of August did not include the critical September month.

"Key Q3 messages from Computacenter should be that it is working through its problems in Germany, but is likely to say that there is still work to do to fix it - and wrap that message in a statement about trading being in line," Panmure Gordon's George O'Connor suggested.

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Admiral Group, Chime Communications, Clarke (T.), Drax Group, H&T Group, IMI, Restaurant Group, Stadium Group, Tikit Group

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Land Securities Group, Schlumberger Ltd., Yamana Gold Inc.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

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

ANNUAL REPORT

Smiths Group

IMSS

Computacenter, Hargreaves Lansdown, Travis Perkins

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Admiral Group

EGMS

Aqua Resources Fund Ltd, Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares

AGMS

Bailey (C.H.), Crystal Amber Fund Ltd.

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Catalyst Media Group, Henderson Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Mid Wynd International Inv Trust, Stewart & Wight, Sweett Group

JH