BLUE-CHIP stocks will be back on the radar of City analysts next week when a clutch of companies issue results or trading statements.
Electrical retailer Dixons will draw the line under a difficult year on Wednesday when it reports results for a period that included a shock profits warning issued in the wake of disappointing Christmas sales.
Dixons stuck by those scaled-down expectations in April, although analysts are assuming the figures for the year to May 3 will be at the lower end of the forecasts, with fund manager Gerrard looking for profits of £292m against £297m a year earlier.
Investors will be looking to Stagecoach for guidance on the future size and shape of the group following a number of disposals in recent months.
The Perth company, which will announce full-year results on Thursday, is in the process of streamlining its troubled US operation Coach USA.
Analysts expect profits of £102m, down on the £107m reported a year earlier.
Stocks in the financial sector will be closely watched next week when a clutch of blue-chip banks attempt to follow the lead of Abbey National, which avoided any nasty surprises when it launched the reporting season earlier this week.
However, Lloyds TSB's chief executive, Eric Daniels, may use the company's trading statement on Monday as an opportunity to outline his intentions after a difficult trading period for the high street firm.
The following day, HBOS will come under pressure to show that its loan-book expansion of recent years has not slowed.
* Companies reporting next week include:
Monday
Finals: Trifast, Workspace, UBC
AGMs: Charles Stanley
Tuesday
Finals: Avesco, Goldshield, Grainger, Numerica.
Interims: Cosalt, Parkdean
AGMs: Alexandra, Chaucer, Hiscox, IFG, Woolworths, Ivory and Sime,
EGMs: Milwall Holdings
Wednesday
Finals: Dixons, Stagecoach, Tribal, VTech
Interims: Porvair
AGMs: Rugby Estates, Watermark
Thursday
Finals: Atkins, Berkeley, Computerland, Digital Animation, DS Smith, Dyson, First Technology, Leopold Joseph, Isoft, Northgate
Interims: Integrated Dental
AGMs: Bloomsbury, Christie, El Oror Mining, Exploration Company, Oystertec, Undervalued Assets
Friday
Finals: Latam
Interims: Heavitree Brewery
AGMs: Aurora, Deutsche Lat, Jennings Brothers, Shires Incom
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