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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/astrazeneca-to-unveil-2010-results.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="AstraZeneca is due to kick off the blue-chip results season" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/min-astrazeneca-to-unveil-2010-results.jpg" alt="AstraZeneca is due to kick off the blue-chip results season"/></a></p>
<p>City heavyweights AstraZeneca and BSkyB are due to kick off the blue-chip results season this week, but the major focus will be on figures detailing the performance of the UK economy in the final three months of 2010.</p>
<p>Official figures released on Tuesday are expected to reveal economic growth in the three months to December slowed down once again.</p>
<p>The rate of GDP growth &#8211; a broad measure for the health of the total economy &#8211; is forecast to come in at 0.4% for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 0.7% in the previous three months and 1.1% in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The end of the construction blip &#8211; which has boosted growth in previous quarters &#8211; and the impact of the snow on economic activity in December are both expected to hit GDP in the quarter.</p>
<p>Meanwhile all the headlines regarding BSkyB in recent weeks have been about its proposed takeover by Rupert Murdoch&#8217;s News Corp.</p>
<p>But the satellite broadcaster will attempt to turn the focus back on to its strong performance when it reports interim results on Thursday.</p>
<p>Analysts expect Sky to post pre-tax profits of £454 million in the half-year, a 27% increase on the previous year, as it continues to win new customers.</p>
<p>Things are not so rosy at pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca, which has had a torrid year which is likely to be reflected in subdued profits growth in its annual results on Thursday.</p>
<p>The group has been hampered by problems with its newest medicines, increased legal costs and greater competition from cheaper rivals.</p>
<p>Keith Bowman, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical group, is expected to post a 1.9% rise in pre-tax profits of 13 billion US dollars (£8.2 billion).</p>
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