Investors will be watching nervously for any sign of a ‘Brexit’-linked hiring slowdown in the UK when recruitment firm Hays plc (LON:HAS) reports final results on Thursday.
Hays could get a boost from the plunge in sterling since the EU vote, with management saying in an earlier trading update that annual earnings would rise £22mln if exchange rates stayed at their level on July 12.
But analysts at Numis Securities said the impact of the referendum outcome remained the key factor.
“We note that more recent trading and results reporting across the staffing sector have begun to highlight a reduction in hiring activity,” they said in a note.
The broker predicts full-year earnings of £180mln against £164mln a year ago.
It also said the company could unveil a special dividend after better-than-expected cash generation and a fall in net debt.
Meanwhile, investors were hoping building products group Alumasc Group plc (LON:ALU) may unveil news of windfalls when it reports full year results.
Analysts at Peel Hunt said its balance sheet was in good shape and would allow it “to make choices with regards to investment, acquisitions or cash returns.”
They said in a note: “The year-end trading update pointed to activity broadly in line with market expectations, so there should be no material surprises.”
The broker expects pre-tax profits of £8.1mln versus £7.7mln a year ago and a market consensus of £8.5mln.
Elsewhere, self-storage group Safestore Holdings Plc (LON:SAFE) was being tipped to give a positive trading update despite uncertainty caused by the EU referendum.