WITH few high-profile companies reporting next week, City eyes will instead turn to economic news.

Transport group Stagecoach, which has a stake in Virgin Rail, is expected to post a drop in profits on Wednesday.

Analysts are predicting full-year profits will slump from £244m a year ago to £106m.

Stockbrokers Gerrard said profits will be hit by the disposal of Stagecoach's train leasing company Porterbrook but add it will be Railtrack's compensation package that will interest investors the most.

Software group TeleWork Systems is expected to report a jump in profits when it publishes year-end figures on Thursday.

Analysts are predicting pre-tax profits will surge from £2.7m a year ago to £5.9m.

Earlier this year, the group acquired specialist software group Solus and investors will no doubt be interested to see how this is being integrated.

Wednesday will be a busy day for economics, and one of the highlights will be the trade figures.

Trade figures last month showed the UK's deficit on trade in goods during March widened to £2.9bn, from the £2.3bn recorded in February, and April's figure is expected to show a further widening to £3bn.

Economists say weaker exports, the recent strength of sterling and strong domestic demand is behind this.

Interest will also be focused on minutes from the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee's latest interest-rate setting meeting, when rates were left on hold at 5.25 per cent.

l Companies reporting next week:

MONDAY: Finals - Business Systems Grp Hldgs, Carclo, Hampson Industries, Intelek, James Cropper, Millfield Group, Scipher, Trifast

TUESDAY: Finals - 600 Group, Alba, Cedar Group, Halma, Intechnology, London Merchant Securities, Warner Estates Holdings, WT Foods Interims: Grainger Trust

WEDNESDAY: Finals: Victoria. Interims: Potential Finance Group, WMRC (Q1)

THURSDAY:Finals: Old Monk Company, Syltone, Telework Group, Turbo Genset

Interims: Seymour Pierce Group

FRIDAY: Interims: Partridge Fine Arts.