Carburton Street, London -- There's plenty of action again next week with no less than five blue-chips and three second-liners reporting numbers. The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee also has its regular two-day discussion about interest rates next week. Meanwhile, the Halifax will be updating us on November house prices.
Scottish & Newcastle (LSE: SCTN) told the market in August that trading was in line with expectations. But that was before the terrorist attacks on America that disrupted global economies. These events are expected to affect the brewer's exports, especially to the US. Scottish & Newcastle has, through a series of strategic acquisitions and disposals, refocused its business and the group now concentrates more on international beers and less on the UK pub industry. But some pundits are a little concerned over this two-pronged strategy. In October, the company sold 456 leased pubs to Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBOS) as a further step towards realising it objective of reducing its direct property interests. Scottish & Newcastle reports half-time numbers on Tuesday.
Granada (LSE: GAA) has already told the market that ITV Digital keeps on losing money. So it should come as no surprise when the digital broadcaster's other partner, Carlton Communications (LSE: CCM), reports that ITV Digital has also impacted its full-year numbers. In addition to its poorly performing digital enterprise, Carlton, which broadcasts to five of the fourteen ITV regions, is expected to be hurt by falling advertising sales. But there should be continued interest in the company and especially what it might say about possible consolidation in the commercial television sector when it steps forward on Tuesday.
Last month, Sage (LSE: SGE) informed investors that trading was in line with market expectations. The market has been concerned that the downturn in IT spend by businesses would impact the software company. But Sage was keen to highlight the resilience of its customer revenue base. However, competition is hotting up at the top end of the financial software market. The US financial software specialist Intuit (Nasdaq: INTU), which makes the Quicken range of personal finance products, said it wants to move up to the higher end of the market. Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has also launched "Small Business Manager", a product aimed at small businesses with up to 40 employees.
Six Continents (LSE: SXC), the company formerly known as Bass, will be relating its full-year story on Thursday. The international hotel operator told the market in September that the first 48 weeks of its current financial year had performed in line with expectations. Revenues per room had held up well and cost controls have helped to contain a fall in operating margins. But investors will be keen to hear how the global economic slowdown and the downturn in international travel have affected its business. This is because almost a fifth of Six Continent's income is derived during the months of September and October.
There are also results from the water company Severn Trent (LSE: SVT), the espresso coffee chain Coffee Republic (LSE: CFE), real ale brewer Fuller Smith & Turner (LSE: FSTA), hotel operator De Vere Group (LSE: DVR) and transport operator Stagecoach Group (LSE: SGC).
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