No surprises likely from week’s company results

THE week gets off to a quiet start as Wall Street is closed today for Presidents’ Day and no major results scheduled in the UK.

But the pace quickly picks up, starting with the full-year figures from mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley.

“I think Bradford & Bingley will be absolutely fine. I’m looking for increased profits, margins and possibly even an increased dividend,” said Tony Craze of Goy Harris Cartwright.

At financial information provider Reuters, annual results tomorrow are expected to bring news of a record loss and more job cuts as it fights slumping financial markets. On Wednesday, investors will be watching how Asia-focused specialist bank Standard Chartered has coped with rising bankruptcies and unemployment in Hong Kong, one of its main markets.

Other companies to report full-year results include household cleaning products group Reckitt Benckiser.

Defence firm BAE Systems, facing cost overruns on two military programmes, is expected to post a fall in profits on Thursday. On the same day, drinks giant Diageo presents interim results after warning in October that it would be difficult to meet full-year targets.

Thursday also brings annual figures from building materials company Hanson , Anglo-Dutch publisher Reed Elsevier and outsourcing firm Capita.