6th Feb 2012 Stock markets reacted positively last week to improved US unemployed figures on Friday to send the FTSE 100 up 1.8% on the day.

This week British Retail Consortium January retail sales figures are expected to be significantly weaker than December's strong showing. Like-for-like sales expected to have dropped by around 1% over December.

Reporting on Monday Allocate Software, Randgold Resources, RM Group and real estate company Workspace Group who release its third-quarter interim management statement.

Workspace is expected to reveal improved occupancy and income rates as analysts as Seymour Pierce continue to maintain a 'buy' recommendation on the stock.

Full-year results also from Randgold Resources with produced output of 695,000 ounces of gold expected in 2011. Collins Stewart rates the stock a 'buy' and believes the firm on track for a good year and excellent outlook till 2014.

BP heads a list of leading blue chip companies reporting on Tuesday after the year in which it re-enter major projects offshore the UK, with the sanction of £4bln Clair Ridge project.

The shares have already retraced some way, currently at 470p as brokers believe that BP has turned a corner in a difficult chapter. Charles Stanley thinks it may be 2013 before BP returns to historic levels of output, achieved before the Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil disaster.

Others reporting Tuesday include 888 Holdings, Beazley, Bellway, Low and Bonar, St Modwen Properties, TalkTalk Telecom, TUI Travel, Victrex, Wolfson Microelectronics, Xstrata and Glaxo.

Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline is expected to maintain a 5% dividend for the full year. As expiry of a number of drug patents loom, news of the new propects pipeline wil be closely followed by institutional share holders.

On Wednesday Virgin Media, City of London Investment Trust, Daily Mail and General Trust, Dunelm Group, Grainger, Homeserve, International Power, Reckitt Benckiser Group plus Supergroup.

Thomas Cook Group also set to report with the shares currently residing at its lowest level for many years. The travel firm revealed better than expected revenue in December but also announced that it intends to close 200 shops in UK.

Clothing firm Supergroup offer its latest trading update after reporting in December that revenues rose 51% to £136.1m from £90.3m the previous year as warehousing problems were resolved.

Interim results also from BHP Billiton on Wednesday with shares on a forward P/E of 8. Aquarius Platinum and Rio Tinto are set to report on Thursday, still on a price-to-earnings ratio of 7 and in view of many, still undervalued.

Also on Thursday WS Atkins, BG Group, British Land Co, Catlin Group, Diageo, Enterprise Inns, Hargreaves Lansdown, McBride, Metric Property Investments, Rank Group, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Shire and Vodafone.

Vodafone Group is in the frame for many income seekers as it yields over 7% with current share price at 170p level. The mobile phone giant reveals its first-quarter trading statement.

Diageo publishes its first-half results expected to show continued progress through its major brands and presence in the emerging markets. The drinks firm was one of Sun City's six stock picks for 2012 where the shares are rated to hit 1650p in 2012.

Closing the week on Friday Cable & Wireless Communications, Flybe Group, Shaftesbury plus Barclays who issues its third-quarter interim management statement. Despite the current uncertainty, Charles Stanley continues to rate the bank a 'hold'.