Financial stocks will provide the main interest next week as Legal and General and Alliance and Leicester are among companies due to report figures.

Business information provider Reuters is likely to say that gloomy conditions have continued to take their toll when it reveals half year results on Tuesday.

The company has been hit by a global economic downturn as City institutions lay off personnel and so buy fewer of its products.

Stockbroker Gerrard is not expecting Reuters' performance to be much different from this time last year, despite financial markets recovering from their March lows.

Analysts are forecasting pre-tax profits of about £54m, compared with losses of £10m last year.

Pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline is expected to show continued strong growth of its Advair asthma product when it reports interim results on Wednesday.

City forecasts predict GSK will turn in pre-tax profits of £1.91bn for the six month period, up from £1.83bn last year.

Doorstep credit company Provident Financial is poised to unveil a solid increase in half year profits with its results on Wednesday.

Analysts predict pre-tax profits of between £79.3m and £82.2m, up from last year's £74.6m.

Capita Group is being watched closely by investors after failing to announce any notable contract wins in its May business update.

Stockbroker Gerrard predicts a near 25 per cent rise in half year pre-tax profits to £53m, from £40.1m last time.

Investors will be keen to hear what impact falling sales of ISAs and with-profits bonds have had on insurance company Legal and General when it reports first half figures on Thursday.

L&G is expected to report interim profits of about £394m, up from £365m at the same stage last year.

Analysts say the margin L&G makes on new business will be the key number to look out for.

Mortgage bank Alliance and Leicester is expected to reveal a strong set of interim numbers on Friday, driven by share buybacks and cost improvements.

Analysts predict pre-tax profits to have remained flat compared with last time, at about £228m for the half year.

l Companies reporting results next week include:

Monday

Finals: IFTE

Interims: St Mowden Properties, Alterian (Q1)

AGMs: Alterian, Bristol Water, Forminster, Forth Ports, Mercury Recycling, Whitehead Mann

EGMs: Bede

Tuesday

Finals: Epic

Interims: First Active

AGMs: Wyndeham Press, Liontrust First UK

Wednesday

Finals: Bespak

Interims: Autonomy Corporation, Cadbury Schweppes, Provident Financial, GlaxoSmithKline

AGMs: BTG, Caffyns, Charles Stanley, Chloride Group, Helical Bar, Invensys, Polar Capital, Sainsbury's, Talisman First Venture, Umeco, Wigmore Group

Thursday

Interims: AstraZeneca, Legal & General, Shell.

AGMs: AEA Technology, Boots, Focus Solutions, Maelor, Merrydown, Nature Technology, Pilkington Tiles, Scapa, Scottish and Southern Energy, Victoria, Wynstay Properties

Friday

Interims: Alliance & Leicester

AGMs: Billam, Cable & Wireless, Chamberin & Hill, Petrel Resources, Tecc-Is, TR Property, McKay Securities