Hold on to your hats, because next week we see earnings season kick into top gear. With 31 of the UK’s largest blue chip index companies reporting figures, for a total of a whopping 45% by weight, we’re in for one hell of a ride. With so many UK 100 companies reporting, could we even see the index rally to a fresh all-time high? Or might we instead see the UK Index reverse course?

While things get off to a rather muted start on Monday, with Reckitt Benckiser (RB.), having parted with its food division for £3.2bn this week, being the only notable release, the party really gets started on Tuesday.

The most closely watched release on the day will be Rio Tinto (RIO). Fresh from this Tuesday’s Q2 production report in which the Copper and Iron ore miner lowered its guidance for the latter (sending shares marginally lower), the dual-listed Rio will hoping its half-year results can revitalise shares. Its sector peers Antofagasta (ANTO; Wednesday), Glencore (GLEN; Thursday) and Anglo American (AAL; Thursday) will also be hoping the resurgent base metals thanks to the US dollar trading at 10-month lows can aid a sector wide rally. However, might a stronger pound weigh on profits?

Wednesday sees one of the more interesting releases amongst the nine UK 100 companies reporting, as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) release their figures at midday. One of the rare occasions that a UK company will report figures in the middle of the trading session, this allows savvy traders to react immediately as the numbers cross the wires. For the budding day trader, there is nothing better.

Also on Wednesday is British broadcasting giant ITV (ITV), fresh from the announcement of its new CEO, outgoing easyJet head Carolyn McCall. The owner of the oldest commercial UK TV channel, the company’s shares have been consistently trending lower since its Q1 trading update on 10 May, where shares closed 2.1% lower. Having traded at a 2017 low – 21% off its March highs – only a week ago, can its Q2 results provide a platform to rally before its new CEO takes over?

On Thursday, fellow underperformer BT (BT.A) will report its Q1 figures. The telecom giant’s shares are trading 15% lower on a year-to-date basis following January’s shock Italian accounting scandal – which knocked 20% off the share price in a day – while falling a further 4.7% on its full-year results release on 11 May. At the time of writing, rival Vodafone (VOD) has been as much as 2.9% higher today. Can BT replicate that stellar performance or will it suffer deja vu?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Thursday also sees the largest UK 100 stock by weight, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSb) reporting figures, while UK Banks begin reporting Q2 figures. Barclays (BARC) kicks things off on Thursday, while traders’ favourite Lloyds (LLOY) rounds off the exciting week on Friday. Look out for our full report on the topic, released Sunday, which will shed more light on the sector.

With so many important (and potentially) pivotal events on the calendar next week, how are you going to keep up-to-date with the latest UK 100 results? Our research department at Accendo Markets has been voted best CFD research service by ADVFN for a reason. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news, results and more. What better time to sign up to have it delivered direct to your inbox, daily?

Ben Vartia, Trader, 21 July