NEWS flow from the high street reaches its peak next week with Christmas trading statements from some of the sector's biggest names.

Coupled with an update from troubled telecom stock Marconi, the week promises to be one of the busiest in the City for some time.

The festive news from the clothing sector so far has been almost all good and Marks & Spencer is expected join the club on Wednesday by reporting a strong showing over Christmas.

The group ended a three-year sales decline last year after focusing on a return to its roots - stylish classical clothing, combined with a new trendy range for younger shoppers, Per Una, designed by former Next and Asda man George Davies.

A note from City stockbroker Deutsche Bank last month led to speculation that Woolworths may have suffered over Christmas due to poor stocking of music and entertainment products.

Chemist and beauty chain Boots could be one of the retailers to miss out this Christmas as tough competition from the supermarkets continues to hold back its like-for-like growth.

Boots reports on Thursday and analysts predict the group, which has launched a series of aggressive promotions in recent weeks, may have seen only marginal growth as consumers go elsewhere for shower gel and headache pills.

Tesco, Sainsbury's and Safeway are also set to highlight how much was spent on food and drink in the run-up to the festive season.

Morrisons and Asda set the tone this week with strong sales so analysts are expecting like-for-like growth of at least five per cent from all three. Sainsbury's will start the ball rolling on Monday, followed by Tesco and Safeway on Tuesday.

One of the week's highlights will be Tuesday's third quarter trading update from Marconi, the embattled telecoms group currently trying to whittle down a substantial debt mountain. It has sold a raft of non-core businesses in a bid to raise £500m by March.

l Companies reporting next week:

MONDAY - Finals: Irevolution Group, Sanctuary Group. Interims: IG Group, Inter Link Foods

TUESDAY - Interims: Halladale Group, Rexonline, Somerfield, Tomkins, Tops Tiles

WEDNESDAY - Finals: GW Pharmaceuticals

Interims: DTZ Holdings, Heiton Holdings, Xansa

THURSDAY - Finals: Tadpole Technology

Interims: Budgens, Precoat International

FRIDAY - No companies reporting