LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - British clothing retailer Next
edged up its profit forecast for the full 2019-20 year
after better-than-expected sales in the Christmas period.
Next, the first major UK listed retailer to update on
Christmas trading, said on Friday total full price sales
including interest income rose 5.2% in the period from Oct. 27
to Dec. 28, the bulk of its fiscal fourth quarter. That was 1.1%
ahead of Next's internal forecast and compared to third quarter
growth of 2%.
The group said its sales performance in the period was
helped by a much colder November than last year and improved
stock availability in both its retail stores and online.
As a result Next increased its full-year profit guidance by
2 million pounds ($2.6 million) to 727 million pounds, an
increase of 0.6% on last year. It forecast earnings per share
(EPS) growth of 5.4%.
($1 = 0.7621 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey, Editing by Paul Sandle)