BAE Systems and Barclays Bank top week's results table

THE start of the bank reporting season and a host of economic data should leave investors with plenty to ponder this week.

Among the companies reporting full-year numbers is defence, aerospace and shipbuilding giant BAE Systems.

The group – a key Scottish employer with operations on the Clyde and in Fife – recently agreed to pay out some 286 million in settlement over corruption charges and the City is expecting annual profits around the 2 billion mark on Thursday.

Analysts also predict the group will raise its shareholder dividend pay-out from 13.6p to about 16p a share.

Barclays will get the bank reporting season rolling tomorrow when details of its bonus payments will come into sharp focus.

The banking giant has been a clear UK winner from the financial crisis after avoiding state support and benefiting from the profitability of its Barclays Capital investment banking arm.

Analysts will be looking for annual pre-tax profits for 2009 to leap by nearly 70 per cent to 10.3bn, or more.

Barclays' comments on the UK outlook will also be of interest, after the bank said a recovering global economy would likely see bad debt charges for the year come in lower than forecast.

Impairment losses are expected to be around the bottom end of the range of the 9-9.6bn range flagged up by the company. Profits at Barclaycard have also improved despite higher bad debt losses.

On the economics front, an inflation spike above 3 per cent in January is set to trigger a letter from the Bank of England to the Chancellor when official figures are released tomorrow.

The central bank has already warned of a temporary surge in prices as a return to the 17.5 per cent VAT rate and higher petrol costs take effect.

Governor Mervyn King has indicated that he will have to write to Alistair Darling explaining why inflation rose 1 per cent above target last month.

Meanwhile, minutes from the BoE's monetary policy committee, due out on Wednesday, could show a split in opinion over policymakers' recent decision to freeze interest rates and pause the 200bn quantitative easing programme.

More benign recent trading in the gaming sector has raised hopes of a better outlook from under-pressure bookmaker Ladbrokes when it announces its full-year results on Thursday.

The firm issued a profits warning in October – with a 58 per cent tumble in its operating surplus for the third quarter after it suffered a barren start to the English Premier League football season.

Analysts expect group operating profit for the year to now be a little above the 170m mark, which would represent a fall of about 30 per cent.

The third quarter saw a winning start to the season by Chelsea and Manchester United and the low incidence of draws – the bookies' favourite result.

Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while Ladbrokes turned to investors to raise 275m in a bid to reduce its debt position.

Investec analyst Matthew Gerard said a run of favourable sporting results – particularly football – that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help Ladbrokes.

"Clearly the industry benefited from something of a reversal in the fourth quarter, and Ladbrokes shares enjoyed a recovery as William Hill delivered its upbeat pre-close update in January," he said.

"However, on balance, we believe finals are more likely to be tinged with disappointment."

Hit television shows and home dining will be the toast of Domino's Pizza full-year results amid expectations for a leap in annual profits to almost 30m.

Analysts have upped forecasts for the delivery and takeaway chain after it posted a sizzling performance last month and said its surplus would be ahead of expectations.

Still on food, Scottish sausage skin and food casings producer Devro is poised to report annual profits of about 24-25m, up from 15.3m.