Investors are likely to quiz two companies on potential takeover bids when they update the market on Thursday.
Poundland PLC (LON:PLND), which is due to report full-year results, is set to face questions about a possible approach by Steinhoff International.
If Steinhoff, which owns Bensons for Beds and soft furnishing chain Harveys in the UK, bids for Poundland, it would be its third attempt to take over a UK company this year.
The group, which has already bid unsuccessfully for Darty PLC (LON:DRTY) and Home Retail PLC (LON:HOME) is considering making an offer for the discounter, but did not give further details.
Poundland, which itself has been on the acquisition trail with its purchase of 99p Stores, urged shareholders to sit tight.
Liberum Capital said the Steinhoff interest "will overshadow what would otherwise have been lacklustre results tomorrow and a poor trading backdrop."
The broker said: "The shares crossed at 195p some 24% higher than what they were trading for most of the day.
"As our analysis shows below, we see modest upside to this price if a bid does arise. We maintain our 160p target price in the absence of a bid."
Electronics distributor Premier Farnell plc (LON:PFL) is also likely to get a grilling after agreeing a £615mln takeover by Swiss electro-mechanical engineer Daetwyler AG (SWX:DAE).
Investors may want to know what the management thinks about a possible counter-bid, with rival Electrocomponents PLC (LON:ECM) having been talked about as a potential suitor.
Numis says Premier Farnell is likely to say in its trading statement that strong mainland European trading and weakness in the UK and US in 2015 have continued into 2016.
"In the UK, we think PFL continues to lose market share (we note that Electrocomponents has achieved c.4% growth in Jan-May)," the broker said.
Other companies expected to report on Thursday include:
Finals: Atkins (WS); Charles Stanley; Consort Medical; Darty; Liontrust; Purplebricks; Redcentric.
Interims: Caretech Holdings; Safestore.
AGMs: Evraz; International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:IAG).