Next Share News (NXT)

Associated British Foods climbed after Credit Suisse upgraded the stock to 'outperform' with a target price of 3,000p.Product testing group Intertek was a strong riser after investors learned it has appointed André Lacroix as chief executive. Lacroix has spent close to a decade in charge of automotive dealership company Inchape.State-owned lender Royal Bank of Scotland headed north after it revealed it now expects to "significantly" outperform its previous guidance of approximately £1bn in total impairments for the fiscal year 2014 thanks to a strong operating performance by RBS Capital Resolution and a continued improvement in economic conditions and asset prices, including Ireland.Clothes retailer Next led the downside after it warned that third quarter sales were lower than its previous expectations and a continuation of the cold weather could reduce full year profits. However, the FTSE 100 group was confident enough to maintain its full year guidance, saying "our experience suggests that some lost sales are regained when the weather turns".According to The Times, the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel has shown that Marks & Spencer, the retailer led by Marc Bolland, is losing market share, prompting a drop in the retailer's share price.Canaccord Genuity dragged Weir Group into the red after lowering its rating to 'hold' from 'buy' and cutting its target price from 3,000p to 2,775p.For analysts at Nomura Tesco's admission that it had over estimated its profit guidance by £250m puts that company's credit metrics effectively into 'junk' territory. It said the key metric is the company's gearing, which they estimate comes in at 3.65 on a net debt to operating earnings (adjusted EBITDA) basis, whereas the threshold for 'junk' in the sector comes in at 3.5.FTSE 100 - RisersAssociated British Foods (ABF) 2,670.00p +4.17%easyJet (EZJ) 1,425.00p +3.19%Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,614.00p +1.83%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 367.20p +1.60%Compass Group (CPG) 996.50p +1.27%Pearson (PSON) 1,239.00p +1.14%CRH (CRH) 1,407.00p +1.00%Kingfisher (KGF) 323.70p +0.94%Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,091.00p +0.93%Diageo (DGE) 1,777.50p +0.85%FTSE 100 - FallersNext (NXT) 6,520.00p -5.03%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 402.90p -3.01%Weir Group (WEIR) 2,471.00p -2.75%Intu Properties (INTU) 321.00p -2.73%ARM Holdings (ARM) 899.50p -2.70%Royal Mail (RMG) 388.90p -2.38%Sports Direct International (SPD) 619.00p -2.37%GKN (GKN) 318.70p -2.27%Prudential (PRU) 1,384.00p -2.16%Mondi (MNDI) 1,002.00p -2.15%