Marston's profits expected to rise by 9 per cent

Analysts at Numis Securities expect brewer and pub owner Marston's to announce a pre-tax profit of £80m in its full-year results on Wednesday, up 9 per cent on the previous year.

Numis said this growth will be driven partly by the group's new-build programme, while trading is believed to be resilient. The following day, rival Greene King announces its half-year figures. Numis has forecast a 7 per cent rise in pre-tax profit on the same period last year, although this is slightly above the consensus view.