Tuesday preview: Next, GKN and BP to report earnings

Next may on Tuesday report second quarter sales growth towards the upper end of guidance, according to estimates by Numis.The UK retailer reported a 10.8% increase in Brand sales in the first 13 weeks of the year, with retail up 8.8% and Directory up 13.7%."This was comfortably ahead of the +4% to +8% Brand sales guidance provided at the preliminary stage and, notwithstanding the tougher second quarter comparatives, the company raised its full year sales guidance to +5.5% to +9.5%," Numis said."The first quarter performance benefitted from much better weather and second quarter comps are also slightly tougher."GKN also reports its interim results and is expected to report a 14% rise in pre-tax profit, analysts predict, as an improving European market assist the automotive division.BP reports its second quarter amid legal issues surrounding the oil company's 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident. The expiration of the Abu Dhabi onshore concession in January this year and planned turnaround of higher-margin upstream projects in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico may hurt BP's upstream earnings. In downstream, higher crude distillation capacity may provide a boost to profits. Tuesday July 29thINTERIMSBP, Brammer, Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Domino's Pizza Group, Drax Group, GKN, Hutchison China Meditech Ltd, Informa, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc., Pace, St James's Place, Synectics, Tullett Prebon, TymanINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Payments (GER) (07:00)Consumer Confidence (US) (15:00)Q2BP, Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.FINALSPZ CussonsIMSSGreencore GroupAGMSAcal, Byotrol, Halfords Group, Plastics Capital, Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus 2 VCT 'C' Shares, Ventus VCT, Vodafone GroupTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSGem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), NextUK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSConsumer Credit (09:30)M4 Money Supply (09:30)M4 Sterling Lending (09:30)Mortgage Approvals (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEAurora Investment Trust, Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI), Electrocomponents, Vertu Motors RD