City File: Friday the 13th

UNILEVER'S second-quarter figures will be about as exciting as a melted Wall's Magnum. Pre-tax profits are predicted to touch pounds 570m, up 8 per cent.

Unilever's principle growth is in Latin America and the Asia Pacific, which together contribute about 20 per cent to group profits. It has recently bought a tomato products company in Brazil and an ice- cream company in Thailand.

Unilever has also been hit by anti-brand sentiment in the fallout from Marlboro Monday. At 960p the shares are a hold, but beware of surprise restructuring costs - a Unilever speciality. It will, after all, be reporting on Friday the 13th.