There'll be news from Michael Page and JD Sports too, in an otherwise quiet week.
The long Easter weekend has brought a bit of a slowdown to company news and results, but there are still a few important announcements to come, mainly towards the end of the week.
Travel companies have been having a pretty mixed time of it lately, competing as they do for the discretionary spend of people who are spending less. And next week, on Tuesday, we'll have a pre-close update from Flybe Group (LSE: FLYB).
Running an airline is tough even when times are good, and recently times have been anything but. Since flotation, Flybe shares have been in freefall, sliding all the way from 295p to today's 70p. But in January, my colleague David Holding decided that they were oversold and bought some. Will the full-year results herald a turnaround? We shall see.
Tuesday will be an important day for those following Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED), as the miner of many metals is set to release fourth-quarter and full-year production figures, ahead of preliminary results on 17 May.
A fall in profits is expected for the year, with the share price having fallen by around half over the past 12 months, but a return to form for the FTSE 100 miner is already pencilled in by the City for next year. In the long run, it's all about demand for copper, aluminium, lead, zinc, iron, oil and gas, and all the other valuable dirt that Vedanta produces, and despite short-term dips, that will surely remain strong.
A recruitment barometer
On Wednesday we'll have a first-quarter trading update from Michael Page International (LSE: MPI), and the recruitment specialist seems to be emerging from a bit of a dip. Profits fell during the crunch years, as hiring new staff was the last thing on most companies' minds. But the -- albeit modest -- dividend was maintained, supported by the firm's strong net cash position.
And the promising signs for the next couple of years, as people expect the business to start picking up again, have already had an effect on the share price, producing a very nice rally since the beginning of the year.
We'll have to wait until Thursday for any full-year results, and we'll have those from JD Sports Fashion (LSE: JD). JD Sports has held up pretty well during the recession, although a bit of a drop off in profits is expected. But forecasts for the year suggest a price-to-earnings ratio of a modest 7.5 with a 3% dividend yield, with both improving next year, so the figures will be worth a closer look.
Booze and babies
On the same day we should have interim results from Punch Taverns (LSE: PUB). Things haven't gone sparklingly well since the two halves of the business were split to produce the current Punch and the Spirit Pub Company (LSE: SPRT), with Punch shares having lost around 30% in the past 12 months.
Also on Thursday, we'll have a fourth-quarter trading update from struggling Mothercare (LSE: MTC), ahead of full-year figures expected on 24 May. The company has had a woeful few years, with earnings having collapsed. The share price has gone too, from more than £6.50 at the start of 2010 to £1.50 today. The hoped-for turnaround will shortly be in the hands of ex-LOVEFiLM chief executive Simon Calver, who will be joining at the end of this month, so we should get some idea of what he's taking on. Let's hope it doesn't scare him too much.
The same day we're also expecting interim statements from building and construction firm Galliford Try (LSE: GFRD), and from another recruitment company, Hays (LSE: HAS).
Notable announcements next week:
Tuesday: Flybe Group, Vedanta Resources
Wednesday: Matchtech Group, Michael Page International
Thursday: Elektron Technology, Escher Group Holdings, JD Sports Fashion, Networkers International, Punch Taverns, Mothercare, Galliford Try, Hays, XP Power
Friday: St. Modwen Properties
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