The Week Ahead: Will Ladbrokes be hit by new taxes like William Hill?

Wednesday also brings a trading update from property website business Zoopla

Last week William Hill said it had suffered from the impact of new taxes, so analysts will be keen to hear tomorrow how rival Ladbrokes has fared from the extra tax on fixed-odds betting machines and a crackdown on off-shore operations when it reports interim results. Investors will also want an update on the £2.3bn tie-up with rival Coral, making the new company the biggest in the country.

Also tomorrow the insurance giant Prudential will reveal its first set of results since the poaching of its highly rated chief executive Tidjane Thiam by Credit Suisse, with analysts expecting a £1.73bn operating profit.

The day also brings outsourcer group Serco under the spotlight, with chief executive Rupert Soames offering a chance to hear his turnaround plans. Last month the former Aggreko boss said trading was slightly ahead of expectations and analysts expect solid numbers.

On Wednesday rival G4S’s interims are expected to show underlying profits up 3 per cent to £194m, thanks to contract wins in the US and emerging markets.

Wednesday also brings a trading update from property website business Zoopla. Bosses will be expected to give an update on how many more estate agents cancelled their memberships and joined rival OnTheMarket.com after revealing in May that 16 per cent had left the website.

On the same day there is also an update from construction firm Balfour Beatty, which is attempting to improve a recent run of profit warnings. The market was warned last month that losses in the UK, Middle East and US would leave up to a £150m shortfall, but expect a stout defence on why investors should stick with the company rather than eye up possible takeover suitors.

Thursday sees updates from Cineworld, where bosses will delight the market with tales of blockbusters wooing cinema-goers.

But perhaps most interestingly will be the trading update from travel firm TUI, where investors will be keen to hear what impact the troubles in Tunisia and economic crisis in Greece have had on the business.