Business Information Service: This Week

Monday 23.5.94

British Airways should lift taxable profits by 66 per cent to pounds 307m for the year to 31 March, thanks to rising passenger loads. Betterware, the door-to- door household goods supplier, is predicted to boost taxable profits by 14 per cent to pounds 14.2m for the year to February, reflecting higher margins and an increasing number of distributors.

Tuesday 24.5.94

Marks and Spencer is expected to lift pre-tax profits by 16 per cent to pounds 865m for the year to 31 March, but will be flattered by an extra week's trading. Thorn-EMI, the music and rental group, is expected to show an increase in full profits of 17 per cent - pushing it up to pounds 339m for the year to 31 March - thanks to rising compact disc sales.

Wednesday 25.5.94

US durable goods orders for April are set to increase by 0.2 per cent. Argyll, the Safeway supermarket group owner, is forecast to report a 15 per cent decline in taxable profit to pounds 355m. But the dividend should rise by 6 per cent to 11.5p.

Thursday 26.5.94

The CBI monthly trends survey is due out. In Germany the Bundesbank Council is meeting. North West Water kicks off the water industry reporting season with a 7 per cent rise in taxable profits, taking it up to pounds 265m for the year to 31 March. Storehouse, the BhS and Mothercare chain, should boost pre-tax profits by 46 per cent to pounds 69.4m.

Friday 27.5.94

Japanese retail sales figures for April are set to fall by 2.1 per cent year on year. South Staffordshire, the local water company, will improve profits by 10 per cent to pounds 11.4m

Sources: NatWest Securities, MMS International.