Wednesday preview: Carillion, Genus, Topps Tiles

Tomorrow is Independence Day in the USA, so US markets will be closed but there should be plenty of news back in Blighty to keep traders occupied.

Support services firm Carillion brings out a pre-close trading statement. Broker Peel Hunt says it is concerned that Middle East construction, which accounts for 20% of estimated earnings before interest and amortisation for 2012 is becoming more second-half weighted, "with margins falling back to 6% more quickly."

The same broker has cast its eye over Genus ahead of the pig and cow semen seller's interim management statement, and is expecting the company to announce another good year of progress. Peel Hunt's forecast is for 12% earnings growth.

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"Markets are generally less helpful to farmers, particularly in dairy due to commodity price movements. However, US hog prices are close to highs reflecting higher corn prices," Peel Hunt notes.

As for Topps Tiles, the tiles and flooring specialist which also has an interim management statement out, it was named by Peel Hunt a few weeks ago as its top pick of potential recovery stocks: "In a sector not lacking in companies looking for recovery, Topps offers a stable balance sheet, no risk of Internet disintermediation and a business that has continued to build market share."

On the economic front, the UK Purchasing Manager's Service Sector Survey is due out at 9:30, with the market expecting the June index to ease to 52.9 from 53.3 in May.

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CareTech Holding, Character Group, Chrysalis VCT, Driver Group, Electronic Data Processing, ITE Group, Paragon Group Of Companies, Pressure Technologies

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Assura Group Ltd., British Land Co, Investors Capital Trust 'A' Shares, Investors Capital Trust 'B' Shares, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Mercantile Investment Trust (The), Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd, Torchmark Corp.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)

PMI Services (GER) (08:55)

GMS

London & Associated Properties

FINALS

CSF Group, International Greetings

IMSS

Carillion, Genus, Taylor Wimpey, Topps Tiles

AGMS

Home Retail Group, Oxford Technology 2 VCT, Oxford Technology 3 VCT, Oxford Technology VCT, Tarsus Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tullow Oil

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRC Shop Price Index (00:01)

PMI Composite (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aegis Group, Anglo Pacific Group, BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust, French Connection Group, Pace, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Staffline Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Anpario, B.P. Marsh & Partners, Babcock International Group, Bisichi Mining, Bond International Software, Burberry Group, Caledonia Investments, Carphone Warehouse Group, Cranswick, De La Rue, Dee Valley Group, F&C Global Smaller Companies, Halfords Group, Martin Currie Pacific Trust, Panther Securities, Rensburg AIM VCT, Restore, Shanks Group, TalkTalk Telecom Group , Tangent Communications, TR Property Inv Trust, TR Property Inv Trust Sigma Shares, UBC Media Group

JH