IT is the turn of the industry big names to report next week, with a raft of companies - from global drugs group GlaxoSmithKline to oil heavyweight BP - all expected to post profits well into the billions.
BP issues fourth quarter figures on Tuesday, less than a week after Anglo-Dutch rival Shell disappointed the market with its results.
Shell reported a slide in earnings on the back of lower crude oil prices and BP is expected to be similarly affected by the weak environment.
Fund manager Gerrard is predicting net income of £1.68bn for the full-year against £2.88bn in 2000.
A victim of last year's terrorist attacks on the US is defence and aviation specialist BAE Systems.
Since September 11, it has been forced to pull the plug on its regional jets business and lose hundreds of jobs as civil aviation demand fell away. Its final figures are likely to be clouded by heavy restructuring and one-off costs.
But investors will no doubt focus on the bigger picture on Thursday, notably the outlook for this financial year and BAE's more buoyant military business. Its strengths there mean final pre-tax profits are forecast to rise to £1.1bn from £859m.
GlaxoSmithKline is expected to post profits of £6.14bn when it issues full-year figures on Thursday.
The firm, which reported pre-tax profits of £5.96bn in 2001, is expected to pass the £6bn mark after benefiting from ongoing merger savings after Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham joined forces in 2000.
l Companies reporting next week include:
MONDAY - Finals: CRC Group, Eurotunnel, Royalblue Group, Torex. Interims: Albermarle & Bond, Murgitroyd Group, Pizza Express, Reed Health Group.
TUESDAY - Finals: Alphameric, Dobbies Garden Centres, Flying Brands, Morgan Sindall, Reuters.
WEDNESDAY - Finals: Hemscott, St Modwen Properties, Xaar. Interims: Galen Holdings (Q1).
THURSDAY - Finals: BAE Systems, Barclays, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever. Interims: Brown & Jackson, IG Group, Macro 4.
FRIDAY - Finals: Domino's Pizza UK & Irl, Heavitree Brewery, Lloyds TSB. Interims: McBride.
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