wc 6th Sept 2010 :The Bank of England MPC monetary policy decision on bank interest rates & quantitative easing is anticipated on Thursday. Interest rates are expected to remain at 0.5% for the 18th successive month despite concerns over inflation running ahead of expectations.

The stock market enjoyed upbeat employment figures emerging from the US on Friday however the UK services sector grew at its slowest pace in 16 months in August indicating that the UK could yet drift into another recession.

BRC Retail Sales Monitor for August is published on Tuesday and could offer some support for a UK recovery in the high street. A recent CBI Distributive Trades Survey showed evidence of retail sector like-for-like growth of 1%.

Pub groups are set to report this week with JD Wetherspoon on Thursday but firstly on Tuesday Whitbread WTB issue a trading statement. Whitbread owns Premier Inn hotel brand and the popular Costa Coffee high street chain. The ex-brewer has reported positive signs in its market and the city will seek evidence, amonst the numbers, of a continuation of its progress and company's high street Costa Coffee chain should add a boost to the figures.

Recently listed online food and grocery retailer Ocado OCDO, who supply for Waitrose, reports on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley recently indicated that it believed that the market for online grocers is likely to contract as analysts tagged the company at half the IPO initial public offering price at 80p. Shareholders will be seeking assurance of strategy against stiff competition from Tesco's, Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencers home delivery services.

Confectionary and luxury chocolate brand Thornton's THT reported fourth-quarter trading figures in July only weeks after issuing a profit warning. Company reported that has seen its market share eroded by supermarket own brands. In July, Thornton's indicated that higher than anticipated discounting of excess stocks had been cleared. Shareholders will therefore be expecting better news in its latest round of reports.

Housebuilder Barratt Developments BDEV report on Wednesday amid a housing market market that seems to have stalled for the summer. Analysts at Numis recently indicated that the BDEV shares were too cheap and pricing in a further correction in UK house prices. Barratt previously indicated that it was confident of delivering 5-10% volume growth. Shareholders will therefore be anticipating growth in sales amid the latest new homes sales pricing.

Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group HOME reports on Thursday as does WM Morrison MRW who report interim results. New chief executive Dalton Philips will present for his first address to analysts who will expect continuity in executing its strategy. Newspaper share tipsters have recently pointed out the Morrison has yet to embrace home delivery or small outlet opportunity typified by Tesco Metro and Sainsbury's Market stores.

Although investor sentiment towards the major supermarkets and food retailers has been cautious the city expects Morrison to be well place with new markets to explore once food price inflation returns and like-for-like sales growth accelerates.

HMV reports on Thursday and shareholders will be looking for signs of stability after the company share price has fallen during the credit crunch. Investors Chronicle recently reminded its readers of the company bid appeal and also potential to grow with sound recovery plans. Company recently launched 'HMVdigital', a new music download service to challenge Apple iTunes. Investors will be hoping for further strategy its business model to embrace latest customer listening habits.

JD Wetherspoon's JDW finals should prove interesting. The high street real ale specialist, pub operator and food and coffee house has continued its expansion programme despite the economic downturn. Like-for-like sales improved by 1% in the 11 weeks to July and further modest improvement is expected as the company continues to pick off prime outlet opportunities from its rivals.

Othe companies reporting at the end of the week include Carpetright, Falkland Islands Holdings, Hartest Holdings, Northgate, Provexis, Ashtead Group, Anglogold Ashanti, BG Group, Charter International, Elementis, Porvair & Rank Group.