The first trading week of September is set to be a busy one for the Swiss market, with more corporate results scheduled for release and some key economic indicators.

Keenly awaited will be unemployment data for August, which will be released on Friday. Analysts are expecting another slight decrease in joblessness. In July, the number of people out of work fell slightly, but the overall rate remained unchanged at 1.8 per cent.

On the corporate front, Zurich based department store, Jelmoli, will release its half-year results on Tuesday. In April, Jelmoli's chief executive, Peter Leumann, said the company had got off to a good start in 2000, with all areas "doing better than forecast".

Also reporting results will be Geneva-based testing group, SGS. Analysts are waiting to see whether the group's management has succeeded in improving profitability.

Thursday sees interim numbers from cement maker, Holderbank. In July Credit Suisse First Boston visited the company, and predicted first-half sales of SFr6.5 billion ($3.7 billion), with earnings at SFr961 million, and net profit at SFr394 million.

Machinery group, Bucher, is also due to reveal its six monthly. In April, the company said sales should be higher than for the same period last year.

by Tom O'Brien

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