LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Next, Britain's secondbiggest clothing retailer, edged up its year profit guidanceafter posting third quarter sales a touch above expectations.
The group, which trades from over 500 stores in Britain andIreland and about 200 stores in over 30 countries overseas, aswell as through its Directory internet and catalogue business,said on Wednesday it now expected a 2013-14 pretax profit of650-680 million pounds ($1.04-$1.09 billion).
The firm was previously guiding to pretax profit of 635-675million pounds.
Next said total sales rose 4.3 percent in the 13 weeks toOct. 26 - an acceleration from growth of 2.3 percent in thefirst half and just above the firm's second half guidance rangeof up 1-4 percent.