Companies reporting next week

THE City will return after the long weekend to a relatively busy three days. The economy will take centre stage with the Bank of England's interest rate decision announced on Thursday, but there are also a number of corporate results due.

Airports operator BAA has been hurt along with the rest of the travel industry by the global slowdown and September 11.

Revenues and profits fell in the first nine months of its 200 1/2 financial year as passenger numbers slid, and its full-year results are expected to show pre-tax profits of £495m, down from £530m.

Mobile phones group Carphone Warehouse has seen its shares under pressure amid worries about the slowing market for mobile phones. It said in March that full year pre-tax profits - to be reported on Thursday - would be £45m to £50m but it would take a charge of £31m to cover items such as closing 89 less profitable stores. Last year the group reported profits of £47m.

Chemicals group Johnson Matthey is expected to see full-year profits edge up to £181m from £180m last time when it reports on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, security group Securicor is expected to unveil half-year profits of £33m, up from £23.4m the previous year. Its cash-in-transit division has been boosted by new contracts.

On Friday, sugar firm Tate & Lyle has had a troubled few years, suffering partly from low margins in the US. It has sold one of its US subsidiaries, although a second deal fell through when the potential buyer failed to secure funding.

Gerrard is forecasting full-year pre-tax profits to come in at £150m, up from £113m.

On the economic front, The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee will be weighing the inflationary pressure of rising house prices against a worrying stagnation in the UK economy when it announces its latest decision on interest rates. On balance, the City is expecting a vote to keep rates at 4%.