Sector movers: Retailers rise as Next impresses

Next is giving the retail sector a lift after results. The fashion retailer did pretty much as expected in the six months to July given that its last update was only a month ago, but the market is impressed nonetheless. Fellow fashion chain Marks & Spencer is up in sympathy.Kingfisher, the company behind the B&Q DIY chain, is higher ahead of first half results tomorrow.But Findel is the best performer in the sector after it announced today that Philip Maudsley's tenure as Findel's chief executive has been brought to an end after less than ten months. He is replaced at the struggling home shopping group by the old boss of professional training and education firm BPP, Roger Siddle.Mining stocks are lower as metals prices fall back. Precious metals such as gold and industrial metals including copper are lower. Miners on the back foot include Rio Tinto, ENRC and Xstrata.Top performing sectors so far todayGeneral Retailers 1,632.00 +2.58%Construction & Materials 3,364.65 +1.15%Food & Drug Retailers 4,962.87 +1.03%Beverages 8,629.03 +0.82%Life Insurance 4,142.24 +0.54%Bottom performing sectors so far todayElectricity 7,060.18 -1.94%Mining 22,014.85 -1.01%Oil & Gas Producers 7,205.79 -0.68%Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution 20,345.67 -0.66%Gas, Water & Multiutilities 4,555.15 -0.56%