Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Matrix has maintained its positive stance on high street retailers Marks & Spencer and Debenhams after the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor for June came in ahead of estimates.Like-for-like sales fell by 0.6%, while total sales grew by 1.5%. "This is better than expected, and a big improvement on the -2.1% decline in May, although obviously not flagging an immediate revival in consumer spending across the board," said analyst Tom Gadsby.With market share to be gained - after the closure and failings of many businesses - the broker has labelled Debenhams with a buy rating and 90p target price. Marks & Spencer, too, is also seen as a buy with a target price of 407p, and the broker expects an "improved picture" when it gives its first quarter report on Wednesday.Prime Markets suggests selling Thomas Cook shares into any strength down to 100p until its interim management statement on 11 August.The travel operator issued a profit warning for the third quarter on Tuesday, with underlying operating profit for the three months ended 30 June likely to be £5m lower than expectations at £20m. Full-year figures are now expected to be below estimates.While the broker notes that a lot of bad news is already in the firm's share price, it believes that the "ongoing uncertainty, fragile economy and resulting poor sentiment" will provide more downward pressure. UBS has hiked its target price for speciality chemicals group Croda by 17% from 1,900p to 2,220p, saying that the group has "many attractive qualities"."Croda is in an extremely attractive position, supplying renewable products in a typically petrochemical industry. We expect that the shift towards 'green' will continue to drive demand and profitability," the Swiss broker said.Ahead of the group's second quarter results due on 28 July, UBS has raised its earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for the year ending 31 December 2011 by 1.8% to 121.4p. EPS estimates for the following two years (ending 2012 and 2013) are upped by 5.6% to 137.4p and by 7.1% to 154.5p, respectively.A buy recommendation is maintained.BC