Corporate lay-offs are expected to take their toll on Reuters' full-year results tomorrow.
Pre-tax profits are expected to fall to £300 million sterling, down from £457 million.
Revenue growth is predicted to have slowed to nine per cent, compared with 15 per cent growth in 2000.
Reuters has been hard-hit by the downturn hitting its corporate clients, which include investment banks.
Instinet, Reuters' electronic broking subsidiary, is also expected to feel the effects of the global economic downturn.
Its revenues slipped one per cent in the third quarter and are forecast to have fallen again in the fourth.
Last month, Instinet cut 150 jobs, around seven per cent of its staff, in a bid to trim costs.
The operation had previously shed 240 jobs over the summer.
Last year, Reuters announced 1,600 lay-offs following the appointment of Mr Tom Glocer as chief executive.
PA