What's in store today...

The retail bonanza continues today with updates from both Ladbrokes (LAD) and WH Smith (SMWH).

Sporting results have been going the bookmaker's way recently, thanks to a number of matches going against form. However, due to the very nature of the economy and British high street, analysts are nervous on the stock. For the shares to perform, management need to be convincing that 2012 is really going to be the year in which its investments pay off.

Ivor Jones, analyst at Numis, said: "The wild card is the possible bid for Sportingbet (SBT) where there is unlikely to be progress unless and until Sportingbet carves off its Turkey business."

WH Smith is another company that has felt the wrath of the UK high street downturn. As its recent quarterly update, the FTSE 250-listed company said it remains highly cash generative after focusing on gross margin gains and tight cost control. As such, it expects the outcome for the year to be in line with market expectations.

Retailers aside, Booker Group (BOK) is set to publish its interim results, which should make for promising reading after it issued a very positive trading update just four weeks ago.

The statement noted sales in the UK were up, while operations in India were faring well. Expansion plans are forging ahead at a steady pace for the company; an update on which will be sure to please investors.

And wrapping up events today will be trade deficit figures for August, which are believed to have narrowed marginally to £4.3 billion in August after spiking up to £4.5 million in July.

Thursday 13 October

Results

(Finals) Air Partner, Clinton Cards, dotDigital Group, WH Smith

(Interim) Booker Group

Trading updates

Ashmore Group, e2v technologies, Hamworthy, Ladbrokes, Mothercare, Rio Tinto, Renishaw AGMs/EGMs Argos Resources, Eaga, Mattioli Woods, Renishaw, Zhejiang Expressway.