specialist is firing on all cylinders

Feb 29 2008

Specialist recruitment firm Michael Page International is expected to say that its business is still thriving despite economic slowdown.

It unveils its results for the year to December 31, 2007 on Tuesday.

Staff numbers - which tend to track the recruiters' confidence in the underlying markets - broke through the 5,000 barrier for the first time.

Bryan Johnston, director at Bell Lawrie, said: "Michael Page claims that it continues to experience strong demand for talent around the globe, with numerous opportunities to grow the existing business.

"For the year just ended, the company is forecast to deliver sales of £833.3million rising to £983million in the current year."

The owner of the FT and the world's biggest publisher of educational materials, Pearson, expects to post adjusted full year earnings at or above the top end of the range of analyst's expectations.

Reporting for the full year to December31 2007 on Monday, the London-based company has said that its education arm will report the strongest year ever. Pearson generates around two-thirds of its revenue in the US with most profit coming in the second half.

Pub group JD Wetherspoon had admitted it is cautious about trading over the next six months.

It has curbed expansion plans after the smoking ban continued to eat into sales. Reporting for the six months to January 27 on Friday, the pub chain has said that it will open five fewer pubs than expected this year. The City expects the group to deliver sales of £913million in the year to July 2008, rising to £966 million in 2009.

Building materials firm Travis Perkins reported a 12.1 per cent rise in 11 month sales to November and has said it remains confident of outperforming the market.

Analysts are forecasting sales of £3.13billion, rising to £3.26billion in the current year.