Zahra hopes new phase will lift DJs David Jones has signed UK clothing line Phase Eight, which is often worn by Pippa Middleton. CAN Pippa Middleton do what nobody else has managed and add some heft to David Jones' bottom line? Chief executive Paul Zahra will be hoping so as he outlines the ailing department store chain's annual results on Wednesday after last week signing UK clothing line Phase Eight, which is often worn by Pippa and her famous sister the Duchess of Cambridge. Other than hoping for future contributions from such exclusive clothing deals and the recent decision to allow Dick Smith to run its electronics section, there is unlikely to be much positive news for Mr Zahra to report after the up-market retailer struggled through another difficult year. The most recent quarterly sales results were down and the combination of poor consumer confidence, a mild winter and hot competition is unlikely to leave much to crow about. Investors will be watching out for any positive forward guidance as the up-market retailer struggles to match the sort of profit numbers it routinely churned out in happier times. Another recovering company, agricultural chemicals maker Nufarm, will be reporting on its turnaround on Wednesday after a price plunge for weedkiller glyphosate and the withdrawal of some branding deals caused some considerable corporate soul searching and restructuring. Most analysts expect today's release of September flash PMI manufacturing data out of China to be positive which should help to continue the positive tone for markets started last week by Dr Ben Bernanke's surprise decision to continue US bond purchases. Tomorrow Gindalbie Metals releases its full year results and on Friday it is the turn of toy distributor Funtastic. Other than that it is a fairly quiet week locally with Wednesday's release of the Reserve Bank's financial stability review looking at risks in our financial system the only real highlight. However, there should be plenty of volatility as the reaction to the Bernanke decision continues to reverberate around the world and a host of offshore economic statistics plus the German election keep things interesting.