STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-M&S lower as Nomura cuts profit forecast

Shares in Marks & Spencer are 2.8 percent lower as Nomura cuts its2012-13 profit forecast for Britain's biggest clothing retailer ahead of itsthird quarter trading update due on January 10. Nomura says it has trimmed its pretax profit forecast for M&S to 666 millionpounds ($1.08 billion) from 694 million pounds. "M&S is changing trading stance from one driven by market share (and oftenpromotion), to a more full-price-oriented approach. In our view, this willresult in difficult quarters in top-line terms, but over time could help delivera significant margin opportunity relative to peers," the banks says in a note. For M&S's third quarter, Nomura forecasts sales at UK stores open over ayear down 1.4 percent, with a 3.5 percent like-for-like sales fall in generalmerchandise only partially offset by a 0.5 percent rise in like-for-like foodsales. Reuters messaging rm://james.davey.reuters.com@reuters.net ($1 = 0.6189 British pounds)