IN the run up to the Easter holidays, the City will have its eyes on the high street, as a host of retailers - including Tesco and Debenhams - are set to report their figures.

Supermarket chain Tesco is expected to smash through the £1bn barrier when it reports its full-year profits on Tuesday.

Sales have been boosted by food price inflation and a less aggressive pricing environment in general, while the group is also likely to have increased its share of the non-food market.

Stockbroker Gerrard predicts pre-tax profits of £1.1bn, compared with £955m last year. It adds that Tesco's operations in Thailand and Hungary should generate profits for the first time.

A strong Christmas trading statement has convinced the City that department store chain Debenhams will produce a strong set of interim results on Tuesday.

The group showed sales over the first 20 weeks increased by close to 11 per cent. Both a brand-awareness advertising campaign and the addition of four new stores should help to bolster this growth.

Gross margin is expected to remain stable, while costs are likely to have increased in line with the increased store portfolio. Analysts predict interim pre-profits of £78.2m, up from £73.8m.

The fragility of the stock market could be tested once more when chip designer Arm Holdings reports its first quarter results on Wednesday.

Arm has been caught up in the recent bloodbath among tech stocks and will need to provide a solid outlook statement and evidence that demand for its products and services remains strong despite the slowing US and Japanese economy.

Stockbroker Gerrard forecasts first quarter profits of £11.5m, compared to £8.2m.

Sports retailer JJB Sports is likely to show off a finely- honed business on Wednesday, with full-year pre-tax profits forecast to come in at £80.3m, an increase of near to £10m on last year.

The group has closed its high street outlets to focus on growth out-of-town and the policy is expected to have paid off handsomely with a strong jump in sales.

Margins may have been squeezed but this is likely to be offset by the benefits of a number of higher-margin exclusive brands.

A mixed performance is forecast for newsagent WH Smith on Thursday, when it reports its first-half figures.

Figures for the first 20 weeks showed good sales growth of six per cent in the retail division but the performance in news distribution was hit by a slowdown in magazine sales.

Gerrard predicts interim pre-tax profits of £102m, compared to £101m for the year before. It adds that earnings over the second half are likely to be boosted by WH Smith's continuing share buyback programme.

l Companies reporting next week:

MONDAY - Finals: Bede, Channel Health, Harvey Nash Group, Hughes T J.

TUESDAY - Finals: Crown Sports, Tesco. Interims: Debenhams, Protec, St Ives.

WEDNESDAY - Finals: JJB Sports

Interims: Arm Holdings (Q1)

THURSDAY - Finals: Emerald Energy. Interims: WH Smith.

FRIDAY - Market closed