My week as "Steward of the Traders Thread" didn't start off too well when I used the wrong code to post the opening piece. :-(

For the technically astute, you may have realised that much of the problem was my lack of familiarity with the TML programming language that Martini had used to put everything together before me. I am fairly comfortable with HTML but the hybrid Tupperware Markup Language (TML) was a bit beyond me. :-)

Joking apart, I cannot thank Martini enough for the amount of help and support he has given me. He has been a tower of strength.

My great thanks to Ruth who provides this week's Thoughts and also brings us a unique insight into her trading world. A first class read!

As for the week ahead, what do we have in store?

Hopefully, after the long weekend break, traders will return to their desks refreshed and raring to go!

There are a number of interesting events coming up this week, including reported results from Mears Group and Dicom on Tuesday.

Costain report on Wednesday and are reputed to have a new contract or two up their sleeve. Another builder, Wilson Bowden, also reports Wednesday and their prospects have been talked up well by the City establishment. As builders have all come in with great results this time around, we will expect nothing but the best.

For the gambling oficianados, both Arena Leisure and Paddy Power are due to show what is is their wallets on Wednesday.

Floors 2 Go might be worth watching ahead of their results on Thursday. All of the news (and rumour) coming out recently has been very bullish.

the end of the week, JD Wetherspoon, have their say and it will probably make sorry reading in view of the number of warnings they have given out recently.

Happy Trading!

G.

Results expected today :-

Bunzl PLC six months to June pretax profit before exceptionals and goodwill 98.7m vs pre-goodwill 100.8m.

CRH PLC six months to June pretax profit 260m vs 161m; interim dividend 9 cents, up 10%.

Dicom Group, Bridgewell Securities forecasts year to June pretax profit 13m vs 11.7m; total dividend 4.9p vs 4.8p.

John Laing, Bridgewell Securities forecasts six months to June pretax profit 8.4m vs 5.1m.

Mears Group six months to June pretax profit 3m vs 2.3m; interim dividend 0.45p vs 0.35p.

Metal Bulletin, ABN Amro forecasts six months to June pretax profit 2.6m vs 2m.

morning all,nice start for myself . long on,brjk,bt.a,cash,eid,lloy,mtn,sbry,bfp.

morning all

Not a traders stock but Churchil China have posted some solid results this morning. If you see the individual thread on this one you will see it is a very sound company with a strong balance sheet.

cheers Gf.