Week ahead: Marks & Spencer | Vodafone | FirstGroup

Lower profits will heap more pressure on Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland this week when the retailer joins Vodafone and FirstGroup in releasing results.

M&S is expected to unveil a slide in annual profits tomorrow – a week after its new fashion team showed off the ranges it hopes will help buck the decline.

Vodafone also presents full-year results tomorrow, amid continued speculation over a deal with its American partner.

The mobile phone operator received a £2.1 billion cut of the dividend from US joint venture Verizon Wireless recently and is expected to outline plans for using the cash.

There has been speculation it may sell its 45 per cent stake in order to concentrate on Europe.

Aberdeen-based FirstGroup is due to update the City on Wednesday on its progress on the road to recovery.

The UK’s biggest bus operator reported last month that revenues on its buses rose by 2.4 per cent in its final quarter to the end of March, up from third quarter growth of 2.1 per cent.