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** Marks & Spencer top UK blue-chip riser forsecond-day running as five star analyst & host of others becomemore bullish on the retailer following robust results releasedon Wednesday.
** Deutsche Bank, a top-ranked broker on the stock accordingto StarMine, lifts rating on the stock to "buy" from "hold" &hikes its target price to 510p vs 470p.
** DB welcomes brighter outlook on gross margins.
** Stock up 4.7 pct, putting it at 5-1/2 month highsfollowing previous session's 9.7 pct jump which was its best dayin more than 5 years.
** Goldman Sachs removes stock from Conviction Sell list,lifts target to 380p vs 340p.
** Citi lifts its target to 450p vs 400p.
** Both banks rated at four stars on recommendations on M&S,StarMine shows.
** Some short covering has been at work, traders said.Demand to borrow Marks & Spencer shares spiked this month in therun-up to earnings announcement, per Markit.
** Heavily outperforms peers again: Next up 1 pct,Debenhams 0.1 pct firmer, & Kingfisher off 0.2pct. (RM: tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)
