The week ahead: ITV in line for ratings rise

ITV is poised to shed light on how its five-year transformation plan under Adam Crozier is progressing this week with popular porgrammes such as The X Factor, Doc Martin and Downton Abbey likely to have boosted its ratings.

It is set to reveal on Wednesday to what extent last year’s difficulties in the consumer economy affected it.

The group last updated the market by saying that advertising revenues rose 1 per cent in the three months to 30 September, defying expectations of a fall. But STV last week reported a fall in advertising revenues from its ITV licence in Scotland in early 2012, which some analysts suggest may bode ill for ITV. However, reports suggest that recent programmes have continued to attract large audiences, and ITV has invested in heavily in programme making.

The owner of British Airways is expected to report that underlying profits doubled in 2011 despite it absorbing a 30 per cent hike in fuel costs. International Airlines Group (IAG), which was formed through the merger of Spanish carrier Iberia with BA, recently said it expects profits to soar over the next four years.

Greater-than-expected cost savings from the merger, efficiencies through buying planes that use less fuel and organic growth will deliver most of the expected gains.

The City reckons it will report operating profits of ¤277 million (£234.5m) in 2011.

Monday: Bovis Homes, HSBC, Pearson.

Tuesday: Craneware, Persimmon, Serco Group, Whitbread.

Wednesday: International Consolidated Airlines, ITV, National Express, RSM Tenon, Weir Group.

Thursday: Kazakhmys, Man group, WPP.

Friday: Rentokil Initial.