Results from cash-strapped package tour firm Thomas Cook were initially due to be announced on November 24th but had to be delayed because, not to put too fine a point on it, the company was up a well-known creek and was looking for a paddle at the time. Having sorted out its cash-flow difficulties after some assistance from its bankers, the full-year figures are set to be announced at 7:00am on Wednesday.
The company has already announced that trading in some areas of the business has deteriorated in the fourth quarter, so the figures are likely to make grisly but interesting reading.
Analysts at Credit Suisse will be among those scouring the company's 2011 fiscal year results for details on recent trading and the companys restructuring plans.
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Another medium-term source of uncertainty, in Credit Suisse's view, is the groups plans for asset sales. Thomas Cook has already made a start on its fire-sale, selling Hotels Y Clubs De Vacaciones to Grupo Iberostar for €72.2m. It is being sold with net debt of €22.4m, meaning the transaction will reduce Thomas Cook's net debt by €94.6m (£81m).
Trendy clothing firm Supergroup publishes its interim results, where the main issue of concern, aside from the usual preoccupation with like-for-like sales growth, will be an update on the company's distribution issues.
Shares in Supergroup, owner of the Superdry brand, plummeted in October after it revealed a botched upgrade to a warehouse system led to shortages in stock levels. "Progress has been made in restoring the replenishment capability and further improvements are expected during November," the fashion retailer said, in a statement issued in November.
Supergroup previously announced that the impact of the disruption on annual profits will be around £6m-£9m, but that figure may be revised in Wednesday's statement.
A recent survey by the BBC revealed that unemployment, or the fear of same, is fast rising up the "misery charts" - the list of things that are most vexing people across the world - so UK unemployment data might be watched a bit more closely by the average person in the street than it would otherwise normally be.
Economists expect the claimant count rate to have edged up to 5.1% in November from 5.0% in October, while the rolling three-month unemployment rate, as calculated according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition, is seen holding steady at 8.3%.
INTERIMS
eXpansys, Supergroup
INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
Braemar Shipping Services, Elektron Technology
INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE
3i Infrastructure, Babcock International Group, Brulines Group, Caffyns, Cropper (James), Cyril Sweett Group, Hornby, Hyder Consulting, KCOM Group, MDM Engineering Group Ltd. (DI), Mitie Group, red24, Telford Homes, Terra Catalyst Fund (DI), United Utilities Group
QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE
F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Import and Export Price Indexes (US) (13:30)
Industrial Production (EU) (10:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
GMS
Coal of Africa Ltd.
FINALS
IDOX, RWS Holdings, Thomas Cook Group
AGMS
African Medical Investments, Avanti Capital, Bezant Resources, BowLeven, British Assets Trust, Encore Oil, EpiStem Holdings, Firestone Diamonds, FRM Credit Alpha Ltd. Red Part Pref Shares NPV, GETECH Group, Greenko Group, JPMorgan Elect Managed Growth Shares, LP Hill, Pure Wafer, PureCircle Ltd. (DI), Sareum Holdings, Uranium Resources, Weatherly International, Westmount Energy Ltd.
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nexus Management
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Claimant Count Rate (09:30)
Unemployment Rate (09:30)
FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE
Aberdeen Asset Management, Bellway, CVS Group, Greencore Group, Marston's, Numis Corporation, OMG, Origin Enterprises, Renewable Energy Generation Ltd., Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust, Sportingbet, SVM Global Fund
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