A range of issues will be addressed next week, with results announcements expected to reflect the introduction of 24-hour drinking and the state of the retail sector.

After only a week of opening under new licensing laws, attention will be on pub operator Mitchells and Butlers on Wednesday.

While the company may update investors on its expectations following the relaxation of opening times, much attention will be on the sector's higher operating costs due to the rising national minimum wage and utility bills.

Enterprise Inns has said it expects little impact on profitability following the introduction of more relaxed licensing laws.

Broker Charles Stanley forecast pre-tax profits of £183.6m, compared with £185m last year. M&B has about 2,000 outlets, including Ember Inns, and Toby and Pub Carveries.

Investors will be hoping for an end to the negative surprises from catering company Compass next week after its recent warning that annual profits would fall short of expectations.

The company said in September that it would only generate pre-tax profits of about £580m for the year to September 30 against £654m last time.

IT specialist Sage is expected to post an upbeat set of annual results on Wednesday after preparing the City for a rise in pre-tax profits to about £204m from £181m last year.

With the figures unlikely to come as any surprise, investors will focus on the company's growth and general trading prospects.

The Newcastle company, which is the last surviving Footsie technology stock, recently announced it was buying French business management software maker Adonix for £78.4m.

Analyst Devika Malik, at Barclays stockbrokers, said: "We believe the market will be focusing on reported organic growth, guidance regarding the outlook for the business and an update on the acquisition of Adonix."