Investors weighing up whether to return to the stock market will be able to study updates from a host of companies this week, ranging from mobile phone operator mmO2 to Manchester United.

Analysts will be looking for an upbeat trading statement from tour operator MyTravel when it brings the City up to speed on the health of its business on Monday.

Rival First Choice boosted the sector this week by sticking to full-year targets and MyTravel, which had a million unsold summer holidays earlier this year, will be expected to show it too is emerging from the wake of September 11.

The group cut 1,600 jobs to battle the downturn but is now investing in its own low-cost airline MyTravelLite - due to start flying passengers to destinations such as Malaga and Geneva next month.

It is over a year since brewer Wolverhampton & Dudley saw off a hostile takeover bid from Pubmaster and the group has been in good spirits ever since.

Shares are now 13 per cent above the 513p value set by Pubmaster and next week's trading statement is expected to confirm the group remains on course to report pre-tax profits of about £74m for the current year.

Chief executive Ralph Findlay is likely to update investors on the roll-out of the group's new Bostin Local format and could unveil plans to return more cash to shareholders.

Leisure group Six Continents will come under fresh pressure to clarify reports it may demerge its Harvester-to-All Bar One pubs and restaurants arm when updating the City on Wednesday.

MmO2 will give the City another insight into the health of the fragile telecoms sector when it reports a trading update on Tuesday ahead of its interim results in November.

On Monday Manchester United posts full-year results and analysts expect pre-tax profits to soar, from £21.8m to £26.3m. The figures have been lifted by the club reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League last year.