The City will be kept busy next week as a host of blue chips give updates on their performances.

British American Tobacco's nine-month profits on Tuesday are expected to be puffed up to £1.69bn, against £1.33bn last time.

Merging drugs giants Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham will on Tuesday announce their last figures before they finally tie the knot at the end of the year.

Glaxo's underlying sales are expected to have risen ten per cent, but SmithKline's figures could be slightly better, brokers Greig Middleton said.

Whitbread's surprise announcement last week that it is to call time on its 3,000 pubs and bars will inevitably overshadow half-year figures on Tuesday, as the City seeks information who the buyer could be, and how much it could go for.

Analysts are pencilling in half-year profits of £190m for the half year, against £213.6m.

Third quarter figures from ICI on Thursday will be closely scrutinised by the City to see whether the chemicals giant has been suffering in the same way as many of its US competitors.

lThe following companies are reporting next week:

Monday - Finals: On-Line, Primeent. Interims: BAA.

Tuesday - Finals: Allied Domecq. Interims: BAT, Glaxo Wellcome, Penna Holdings, Shire Pharmaceuticals, SmithKline Beecham, Thames Water, Whitbread, Wyndenham Press Group.

Wednesday - Finals: VTR. Interims: Luminar, Matalan, Pressac, Shanks Group.

Thursday - Interims: Boots, Man Group, Scottish Power (Q2), Shell (Q3).

Friday - Finals: Roxspur. Interims: BSkyB , Unilever