Kingfisher Share News (KGF)

DIY retailer Kingfisher issues interim results that are likely to see a recovery in profitability, albeit with some help from favourable currency movements.Owing to accidental distribution of in-house figures to some City analysts Kingfisher had to rush out a profit statement on 8 September, so we already know that adjusted pre-tax profit for the six months to 1 August will be between £285m and £290m, much better than previously expected.The B&Q owner said retail profit, which excludes central costs and exceptional items, will be in the range of £345m-£350m, broadly made up of £148m in the UK and Ireland, £146m for France and £53m in other international markets.Total sales are expected to improve to around £5.5bn from £5.13bn in the first half of 2008.Cash and carry group Booker issues a trading update in which shareholders will be hoping the upbeat tone of the July trading statement will be maintained,. Then, the company said total sales rose by 7.8% in the 12 weeks to 19 June, the first quarter of the company's financial year.Singer Capital Markets is forecasting second quarter sales will grow by 3%, though it would not be surprised to see this figure surpassed given the large number of growth initiatives being explored by Booker's management. Sticking with the retail scene, UK Retail Sales for August are expected to show a monthly increase of 0.3%, slightly lower than July's 0.4% increase. The annual rise in retail sales is expected to slow to 2.8% from 3.3%. Building and civil engineering contractor Kier Group has seen its shares soar since it said back in July it is to recommence construction on a number of developments and is once again looking for new plots to acquire.The company added that its full year results should be in line with market expectations, which suggests pre-tax profit of £50.1m, down from £63.4m a year earlier, on sales of £2,215m, down from £2,332m.INTERIMSFrench Connection, KingfisherINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEDialight, Spirent CommunicationsFINALSCentaur Media, Kier Group, NXT, Ultimate Finance Group, Wilmington GroupAGMSAccident Exchange Group, ACP Capital, ACP Mezzanine Ltd., Artemis Alpha Trust, Best of the Best, Encore Oil, Games Workshop Group, Infoserve Group, Nufcor Uranium Ltd.TRADING STATEMENTBookerUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSInternet Retail Sales (09:30)Retail Sales (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATENew Century AIM VCT, Robert WisemanUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSRetail Sales (09:30)CBI Industrial Trends Total Orders (11:00)INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSHousing Starts (13:30) (US)Building Permits (13:30) (US)Weekly Jobless Claims (13:30) (US)Philadelphia Fed (15:00) (US)Trade Balance (10:00) (EC)Construction Output (10:00) (EC)Tertiary Industry Index (JPN)Bank of Japan Target Rate (JPN)