Investors in bank note and passport printing firm De La Rue (DLAR) are enjoying a rare period of calm as the shares continue their recovery from their all-time lows of 30p over the summer.

With the stock currently trading at a nine-month high of 74p, and the firm having issued a pre-close update in early October, the first half results announcement on 19 December should be a formality.

Adjusted operating profits are now expected to be ‘marginally ahead’ of previous guidance, which was for ‘broadly break-even’ at the half-year stage and somewhere in the low £20 million range for the full year to next March.

Net debt is also expected to be better than the £100 million originally forecast for the first half and the year, coming in at around £80 million for the first six months and in the mid-£90 million range for the full 12 months.

Analysts are hardly pushing the boat out when it comes to earnings forecasts for the year to next March, with net profit now seen at just £1.4 million against a consensus of £3.9 million three months ago, meaning there is scope for a positive surprise in terms of the outlook depending on how strong recent trading has been.

UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

FULL YEAR RESULTS

December 18: Hollywood Bowl

FIRST HALF RESULTS

December 19: De La Rue

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 20: Time Finance

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