MARCONI is bound to be one of the City's biggest stories next week when the troubled firm releases a key trading statement.

But the market will also be on the look-out for more indications of the state of the economy post September 11 - with eyes on updates from Prudential and Reuters.

Marconi will release its long-awaited trading statement on Monday, and in view of the group's devastating profit warnings in July and September, the key question for the market will be - can it survive?

Investors will understandably be nervous ahead of this latest update on the group's fortunes, which forms part of the new management team's attempts to improve its communication with the City, fund manager Gerrard said.

The group has announced 10,000 job cuts this year, and infuriated unions by giving former boss Lord Simpson a pay-off, while shares have slid so far one analyst has branded them virtually worthless. Traders say the situation remains "high risk".

Internet bank Egg is expected to report reduced third quarter losses on Tuesday, cut from £34.5m to £17m loss.

Despite being loss-making the bank is a darling of its sector, growing at a phenomenal rate, Gerrard said.

Insurer Prudential, which created Egg, is also reporting during the week, and is expected to show strong new business sales for the nine months to September 30.

A trading statement from news information firm Reuters on Tuesday is expected to show that it is meeting its target of three per cent growth in underlying revenues. Total sales are expected to come in at £960m, up from £886m for the same period the previous time.

Full-year figures from WH Smith on Thursday are expected to be impacted by a fall in profit at its US travel business, which has suffered a slide in trading following the September 11 attacks.

Pre-tax profits are expected to come in at £135m, a fall from the £141m last time.

l Companies reporting next week:

MONDAY - Interims: Arm Holdings, Bioglan Pharma, Harvey Nash Group, Prowting

TUESDAY - Finals: Bellway, Gleeson (MJ) Group. Interims: Brown (N) Group, Reuters, Sytner, Wilmington Group

WEDNESDAY - Interims: Blacks Leisure

THURSDAY - Finals: Fibernet Group, Indigovision Group, WH Smith, Tyco International

FRIDAY - None.