RETAILERS, a biotech company and Manchester United will provide the City with a rich variety of news next week as traders look for a stream of positive corporate numbers to boost confidence.

The City's attention will focus on biotech company Alizyme's pipeline of new products when it reports annual results on Monday.

Analysts are expecting a loss of about £5m, against a deficit of £4.1m a year earlier, and will be looking for progress on drugs it is developing to combat inflammatory bowel syndrome, diabetes and obesity.

Some feel the obesity drug has the biggest potential but there are concerns it may be released on to the market too late. Alizyme is looking at a date of 2006.

Spiralling wage costs will be the subject of the day when Manchester United football club reports its interim figures on Monday.

Analysts feel there is now considerable pressure on the club's wage bill with new deals needed for a number of its key players, not least England captain David Beckham. Higher costs from new players brought in last year should see interim profits come in roughly £2m lower at £10m.

The club has traditionally been able to increase revenue to help costs, and on this score, the City will be keen to find out how the club intends to develop its recent strategic alliance with baseball giants, the New York Yankees.

Newcastle housebuilder Bellway is expected to turn in a strong set of annual figures on Wednesday, with interim profits due to come in at about £33m, compared to £30.4m for the same period the year before.

Internet filtering company SurfControl hit the headlines this week after its software played a key role in helping Greater Manchester police track Internet users suspected of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The company reports its results on Wednesday for the third quarter, which are expected to show a loss of at least £3.4m before one-off costs.

l Companies reporting next week:

MONDAY: Finals - Alizyme, Bond International Software, Dewhirst Group, Enterprise, Manchester United, Moss Bros Group, Parkwood Holdings, SR Pharma.

TUESDAY: Finals - Intermediate Capital Group, MSB International, Pressac, Warnford Investments.

Interims: Giardino Group, Thompson Clive Investments.

WEDNESDAY: Finals: Beattie (James), IS Solutions, Martin International Holdings, Toad, UCM Group.

Interims: Bellway, Surfcontrol (Q3).

THURSDAY: Finals: Austin Reed, Empire Interactive, Ted Baker, United Overseas Group.

Interims: Arcadia Group, Madisons Coffee

FRIDAY: Finals: Clinton Cards, R.E.A Holdings.