Mobile phone giant Vodafone is expected to show that rapid expansion into emerging markets has continued to pay off when it unveils full-year results tomorrow.
Revenues growth from its mobile internet products is also giving the group a boost, which may add to the anticipated results cheer at a time when core markets such as the UK and continental Europe are looking saturated.
Meanwhile, revenues in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa region also saw double-digit growth, up 13.8 per cent in the three months to the end of December, excluding the impact of acquisitions.
India and Turkey in particular are expected to buoy figures, with Vodafone having expanded in the regions over the past two years by buying stakes in wireless operators.
Analysts are expecting Vodafone to reveal that full-year revenues rose by more than 13 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, with the consensus at between £35.2bn and £35.4bn.
Underlying earnings are seen rising to £13.1bn, from £11.96bn last year.
But focus will be on its prospects for the current year, given the economic uncertainties and the consumer spending slowdown in many of its markets.
Meanwhile, speculation is also mounting over a possible successor to chief executive Arun Sarin as market rumours suggest that he may be planning to step down this year.
Pizza-to-salad group Northern Foods will be under pressure to reveal new contracts tomorrow after it announced this month it had refused to accept revised terms on one of its long-term deals with Marks & Spencer.
The decision will see it mothball its Fenland Foods site in Grantham, Lincolnshire - built to serve M&S in 1987 - putting 700 jobs at risk. However, Northern is expected to spread some cheer with forecasts suggesting it will post a 21 per cent rise in profits to £48.4m.
Northern, which makes Fox's biscuits and other well-known brands including Dalepak and Goodfella's pizza, said in March that it was on course to beat original market expectations after saying it had successfully bolstered its fortunes by ditching lower-margin business and refocusing on faster-growing markets, such as ready meals, sandwiches and salads and puddings. Analysts have since upped their forecast for profits by nearly £1m.
The UK's second biggest domestic energy supplier could signal further bill hikes when it reveals full year results on Thursday.
Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) hiked gas and electricity prices by more than 14 per cent in March, following on from rises from its big five counterparts in the previous two months. They were blamed on the soaring cost of wholesale energy supplies.
Earlier this month British Gas owner Centrica said wholesale costs had doubled over the past year, warning it would take "necessary action" to protect its under pressure profit margins.
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