Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is expected to report another fall in quarterly sales at its general merchandise division on Tuesday.The UK retailer is likely to blame the decline on its transition to a new web platform when it publishes its first quarter sales trading update, according to analysts. The group is likely to post a like-for-like fall of 1% in sales at general merchandise, which includes clothing, footwear and homeware, according to Numis. It compares with a 0.6% decline in the fourth quarter.In May, M&S reported its full-year results which revealed a pre-tax profit of £623, 1% ahead of consensus but the beat was driven by non-core factors. At the time the company warned that its new website, which went live in February, would take up to six months to "settle in". The firm assured it was normal in the industry and denied there were problems with the site.The site is part of M&S's transformation into an international retailer to reach customers through stores, the web, tablets and mobile devices.Numis said that while the website may have some impact on general merchandise, the food division is still outperforming the market. "With capital expenditure now set to drop as the bulk of the infrastructure investment has passed, the shares look inexpensive, particularly from a forward cash flow perspective," the broker added."However, having posted 12 consecutive quarters of negative GM like-for-likes, we remain unconvinced that the general merchandise division is improving."Tuesday July 8thINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEMarston's, One Media IP GroupQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEVerizon CommunicationsINTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBalance of Trade (GER) (07:00)Consumer Credit (US) (20:00)Current Account (GER) (07:00)Retail Price Index (GER) (07:00)Current account (JP) (00:50)Bank lending (JP) (00:50)Speech President Richmond Fed (18:00)Speech President Minneapolis Fed (18:45)ANNUAL REPORTCropper (James)IMSSMarks & Spencer GroupEGMS3i InfrastructureAGMS3i Infrastructure, Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc. (Reg S), Empyrean Energy, Establishment Inv Trust, Marks & Spencer Group, Octopus Apollo VCT, Paragon Diamonds, Plaza Centers NV, Solgold, Young & Co's Brewery 'A' SharesTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSBovis Homes Group, Dunelm Group, SIG, XP Power Ltd. (DI)UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSIndustrial Production (09:30)Manufacturing Production (09:30)FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEGreat Portland Estates, London SecurityRD