Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Thursday preview: M&S trading update, BoE rate decision

Marks & Spencer Group is expected to unveil a weak trading update on Thursday following a bleak Christmas period for the retailer. Sales of its struggling general merchandise, including clothing, is forecast to fall 1.5% during the festive period despite heavy discounting of up to 30%. Clive Bla

UPDATE 2-Sainsbury warns on UK consumer spending after "best Christmas ever"

* Q3 like-for-like sales, ex fuel, up 0.2 pct * Outcome is 36th straight quarter of like-for-like sales growth * Sees Q4 outcome similar to Q3 * Cuts like-for-like sales year growth forecast to "just below 1 pct" * Shares fall up to 2.7 pct By James Davey LONDO

UPDATE 1-Sainsbury posts small rise in Christmas sales

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - British grocer J Sainsbury eked out a tiny rise in underlying sales in its Christmas quarter, with its rate of growth slowing significantly in a tough overall market. The group, which trails market leader Tesco and is battling with Wal-Mart Stores' Asda to be the

UK retailers cut prices by record amount in December -BRC

By David Milliken LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - British high street stores offered their biggest pre-Christmas discounts in at least seven years last month, industry figures showed on Wednesday, highlighting tough trading conditions despite an improving economy. The British Retail Consort

Suited and booted, London chases global menswear crown

* Growth rate for men's fashion outpaces womenswear * London kicks off international menswear show season * City has men's fashion heritage - and fabled styles By Brenda Goh LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Britain, birthplace of the three-piece suit and leather brogues, is stepp

MARKET COMMENT: UK Stocks Close Fractionally Higher After Volatile Session

London close: Markets flat after choppy session, services PMIs weakens

- Miners limit gains after weak economic data - Services PMIs from China, UK, Eurozone and US weaken - RSA rises, UBS says takeover and break-up still possible - Retailers in focus ahead of updates techMARK 2,792.25 +0.13% FTSE 100 6,730.73 0.00% FTSE 250 16,049.30 +0.18% UK markets ended flat on

FTSE 100 movers: RSA jumps on 'buy' rating

RSA Insurance was a high riser today after UBS raised its target price for the stock from 100p to 113p and maintained a 'buy' rating. The bank added the stock to its 'Alpha Preferences Most Preferred List', saying: "While there are significant uncertainties, we think that the balance of risks is to

London midday: Stocks flat as global services PMIs point to slowdown

- UK, Eurozone, China services PMIs ease - Markets rangebound, little changed by midday - Takeover and break-up of RSA possible, says UBS - Retailers in focus ahead of sales updates techMARK 2,795.09 +0.23% FTSE 100 6,731.24 +0.01% FTSE 250 16,063.40 +0.27% The FTSE 100 was little changed on Monda

London open: Markets flat ahead of busy week, PMIs in focus

- Services PMIs on tap, Chinese data weakens - RSA leads financials higher - Retailers in focus ahead of trading update, M&S falls techMARK 2,787.71 -0.03% FTSE 100 6,727.98 -0.04% FTSE 250 16,028.46 +0.05% UK markets opened broadly flat on Monday morning with gains in the financial sector offset

UK online sales rise but high street sales fall in Christmas trading

UK online sales reached a new record in December while high street retail sales fell this Christmas, a new report from accountancy firm BDO revealed. December non-store sales jumped 31.1%, rising to growth of 55.7% in the week before Christmas. Traditional high street retail sales, on the other ha

London pre-open: Flat start ahead of busy week for FTSE

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down one point from Friday's close of 6,730.67 as investors gear up for a busy week, with trading set to pick up following the quiet festive period. Over in the US, stocks ended mixed on Friday on a low-volume day as investors digested comments from out-

Sunday newspaper roundup: Marks & Spencer, supermarket trading, RSA

Marks & Spencer is preparing to reveal worse than expected Christmas trading despite large price cuts aimed at supporting sales, the Sunday Times and other papers reported. Citing City sources, the Sunday Times said clothing and homeware sales fell by as much as 1.5% over the quarter covering Christ

MARKET COMMENT: UK Stocks Close Higher As FTSE 100 Turns 30

London close: FTSE 100 gains as Next lifts retailers higher

- UK construction, mortgage data beats forecasts - UK house prices continue to rise, business lending falters - China service-sector data disappoints - Retailers rise as Next lifts guidance after Christmas techMARK 2,788.64 +0.59% FTSE 100 6,730.67 +0.19% FTSE 250 16,020.47 +0.64% UK markets push