Results covering activities ranging from bingo to car hire should ensure investors' cards are marked on the state of the economy next week.

A cocktail of negative trading factors is likely to have iaffected drinks company Diageo's annual results on Thursday.

The Sars outbreak, weakening consumer demand in the US and general economic weakness are expected to have pegged profits to £2.12bn, up slightly from £2.04bn a year earlier.

Insurer Royal and Sun Alliance made headlines for the wrong reasons last year after announcing 1,200 job losses with its decision to close its UK life operations to new business.

This time, profits should show an improvement with analysts looking for an operating result of £356m against £301m last time.

Leisure group Rank's half-year results on Friday will again be propped up by its gambling operations, which include Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos.

Despite the winning streak, Rank's figures are likely to be led lower by the impact of the economic slowdown on its tourist-based Hard Rock cafe chain. Fund manager Gerrard is tipping profits of £82m against £85m last time.

International Power is expected to report on Thursday that its market has improved following a difficult year.

But the upturn, helped by demand in the wake of the European heatwave, has come too late to rescue half-year results. Fund manager Gerrard is forecasting profits of £91.6m against £162m last time.

Anglo-Australian pallets-to-waste disposal company Brambles is expected to meet full-year market forecasts of about £291m - down from £305m a year earlier - when it reports results on Tuesday.

Car rental company Avis Europe warned investors in June that it would cut its interim dividend following a tough few months.

The company is expected to post a fall in pre-tax profits to £22m, down from £32m a year earlier.

* Companies reporting results next week include:

Monday

Interims: Avis, British Vita, Cairn Energy, ITNet, John Laing, Pilat Global Media, Stadium, Vitec

AGMs: Computerland UK

EGMs: Eurodis Electron, Xenova

Tuesday

Finals: Brambles Industries, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Dicom, Linx Printing Technologies, Provalis

Interims: Autologic Holdings, BBA, Brammer, Computacenter, Comunisis, CRH, Gowrings, Lambert Howarth, Lavendon, Marlborough Stirling, Meggitt, Paddy Power, Schroders, Tibbett & Britten, Wireless Group

AGMs: Enterprise, Helphire, Murgitroyd

Wednesday

Finals: Isotron, Logica CMG, Regent Inns,

Interims: Associated British Ports, James Beattie, Cambridge Antibody Technology (Q2), Costain, Devro, Gallaher, Melrose Resources, Savills, Schroder Ventures International IT, Serco, SIG, Signet, Wealth Management Software

AMGs: Quintain Estates, DS Smith, Somerfield

Thursday

Finals: Diageo, Eidos, Macro 4

Interims: Amlin, Arriva, Ask Central, Axis-Shield, Davis Service Group, Estates & General, Harrier, Intercare (Q2), International Power, Intertek, Mowlem, MTL Instruments, Rathbine Trousers, Royal & Sun Alliance, SHL, Tullow Oil, Wilson Connolly Holdings, XTL Biopharmaceuticals

AGMs: Carlco, ID Data, Syltone

Friday

Finals: Go-Ahead,

Interims: Aga Foodservices, Marshalls, RMC

EGMs: Aberdeen Intl Fun