Market watch: BP interims set to hit $5.9bn after oil spill crisis

So far the oil major has made provisions of $41.3 billion (25.6bn) to cover compensation and clean-up costs for the explosion that killed 11 rig workers and spilt millions of barrels of oil.

However, analysts have suggested the final figure may come in less than that. The group recently clawed back $1.1bn from Japan's Mitsui Oil Exploration Company, one of its partners on the Deepwater Horizon rig, which it put into the $20bn trust set up to meet spill compensation claims. Other claims against partners are still outstanding.

BP, which resumed dividend payments in February, is tipped to make underlying profits of between $5.7bn and $6.7bn in the second quarter, with a consensus of just above $5.9bn.

Terrestrial broadcaster ITV has already warned that advertising slumped during June and that first-half advertising revenues would rise by between 1 per cent and 2 per cent despite a strong first three months of the period.

This meant the second three months saw the first fall in advertising revenues growth in a quarter since 2009.

Analysts expect revenues to be as much as 20 per cent lower in June compared to the previous year, partly due to comparisons with the World Cup last year. Investment bank UBS revised down its full-year ad growth forecast from 4 per cent to 2 per cent and also trimmed its full-year earnings prediction following the update.

When he revealed the advertising slide, chief executive Adam Crozier warned the volatility highlighted the need for ITV to focus on its five-year turnaround plan.

New, original programmes are a key part of that strategy, so while Crozier may be cautious on the prospects for advertising revenues over the rest of the year he is likely to be more upbeat on new programmes. The success of Downton Abbey prompted a raft of new starts, especially dramas such as Titanic with more in the pipeline.

The company is also likely to get a significant boost over the next 12 months from advertising linked to the Olympics and Euro 2012.

Paul Richards, an analyst at Numis, expects interim underlying profits of about 195 million, compared with 165m in 2010.

Scottish Gas owner Centrica can expect plenty of negative headlines on Thursday when it releases its interim results - two weeks after it announced price rises for gas and electricity were going up steeply in order to offset a 30 per cent hike in wholesale gas prices since last winter.

Millions of customers will now pay an average of 18 per cent more for gas and 16 per cent more for electricity bills from August, with a dual fuel energy bill rising by 190 a year.

The tariff hike sparked more accusations of profiteering from consumer groups, something the group will be very conscious of when its releases the interim figures. Critics also argue that while wholesale prices have risen recently, they remain around a third lower than their 2008 peak.

British Airways and merger partner Iberia, now called International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), are expected to be in bullish mood when they reveal first-half figures on Friday.

Premium traffic - business and first class - soared by 25 per cent in June and though this was boosted by strikes in the comparable month in 2010, premium business is key to the airline's profitability.

BA and Iberia have also linked with US carrier American as key members of the Oneworld alliance, which means the trio are represented at the four largest premium passenger airports globally - Heathrow, New York JFK, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Broker Morgan Stanley notes that Oneworld has the dominant share of premium seat capacity at each of these four airports, including around 60 per cent at Heathrow.

Higher fuel costs have been offset by additions to the fuel surcharge bill, with long haul premium and non-premium fares increasing recently by between 10 and 20.