M&S expects "little improvement" in full year sales after weaker first-half revenue
M&S reported declines in food and clothing sales in the first half as it carried out its store closure programme
Company
Marks and Spencer Group PLC
LON:MKS
Marks and Spencer Group is a retailer of clothing, food and home products in the United Kingdom. The Company has 622 stores, including Simply Food franchise stores, as well as an international business.
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FTSE 100 closes higher as markets are relieved after US midterm election
The UK's premier benchmark index finished over 76 points higher, or 1.09%, at 7,117
Primark on track to overtake Next as UK’s second-largest clothes retailer by end of year
First-placed Marks and Spencer will be looking over its shoulder very soon as well
Archive
Fed meeting and interest rate decision to hold focus on Wednesday amid midterm results
The latest interest rate decision from the Fed will be vying for attention as markets digest the results from Tuesday's midterm elections
FTSE 100 closes marginally higher as European indices lag; US mid-terms in focus
FTSE 100 closed marginally higher but mid-cap cousin FTSE 250 plunged nearly ten points.
Archive
Trump mid-term test and US rate decision to give week ahead a Trans-Atlantic twist
Aside from the US elections and Fed policy meeting, updates from UK blue-chip retailers J Sainsbury, Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Marks & Spencer should draw the most attention in the coming week
ASOS: The high street killer
If video killed the radio star, ASOS, with a little help from its online peers, is killing off the high street
Coast enters into administration after taking hit from House of Fraser collapse
Karen Millen has bought some parts of Coast, including the brand’s website and UK department store concessions
‘Fast Fashion’ draws ire of MPs on environmental waste concerns
Mary Creagh MP has written to the heads of companies with large clothing lines as part of an investigation into how the UK fashion industry can reduce its environmental footprint
£250mln wiped from value of ASOS as biggest shareholder cashes in
Shares sales from major shareholders, especially those at a discount to the market price, are often seen as a sell signal, but the City still reckons there’s some money to be made with ASOS
Hardware & electrical equipment
Could Apple innovation finish off struggling clothes retailers?
Waning footfall and the wholesale closure of stores chart the switch from bricks and mortar to clicks and same-day delivery
FTSE 100 closes day higher, boosted by rise in crude
Brent crude is up over 3% at $81.50 a barrel at the time of writing..
Anglo Asian Mining shares fly higher as it takes steps to identify new targets
A look at some of the top risers and fallers in London on Thursday
FTSE 100 finishes lower as BoE keeps rates on hold; sterling gains
The UK benchmark index of leading shares finished down nearly 32 points at 7,281
M&S, Next and Dunelm all in the red as retail sales fall in August
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO said its monthly High Street Sales Tracker (HSST) showed like-for-likes fell 2.7% in August from a year earlier
Archive
Airlines under pressure after IAG's British Airways unit hit by data theft
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers in the London market on Friday
FTSE 100 takes a dive again; miners bear brunt
FTSE 100 finished down around 41 points or 0.56%, at 7,277 as its poor run continues
M&S hovers above FTSE 100 relegation zone but frenzy over new skirt offers hope for ailing clothing arm
In a welcome boost for the retailer's troubled womenswear division, a soon-to-be-released M&S skirt has sent shoppers into a frenzy on social media
FTSE 100 closes in red as traders fret about Turkey crisis
The UK benchmark of leading shares closed down over 24 points at 7,642.
Anglo African Agriculture shares jump as first half loss narrows
A look at some of the top risers and fallers in London today
TheWorks.co.uk begins trading in London with market value of £100mln
TheWorks raised £65.2mln of gross proceeds, some of which will be used to repay debt
ASOS shares tank as third quarter sales miss market forecasts
ASOS left its full year estimates unchanged but expects sales growth to be at the lower end of its guidance range
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher but off 6,700
The UK blue-chip benchmark closed around four points higher at 7,692
Eyes on Marks & Spencer and Ocado as spotlight is set to remain on retail
Marks & Spencer's AGM day is set to be less eventful than usual, as it has decided not to provide a trading update.
M&S to scrap trading update at AGM amid turnaround plan
New chairman Archie Norman reportedly wants to take a broader view of M&S as it undergoes a restructuring
FTSE 100 closes firmly higher as market shrugs off UK political chaos
Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index, said the UK was now at a crossroads..
How ASOS became the ‘King of AIM’
When looking for the 'next big thing' it is perhaps natural to look back at past success stories - on AIM, there are few bigger success stories than ASOS
Archive
High street vs online: Updates from retailers Mark & Spencer and ASOS will provide fuel
Aside from M&S and ASOS, the week ahead will also bring trading updates from the likes of Ocado, Burberry, Barratt Development, Experian, and JD Wetherspoon
John Lewis unveils plans to close five Waitrose stores, warns annual profit to be “substantially” below last year’s level
The partnership said while it forecasts that Waitrose’s profit would grow over the year, this would be offset by declines in its department store business plus a drag from the significant extra costs of investing in IT systems
Dixons Carphone future remains uncertain as Amazon effect takes over retail
"The scale of the challenges in front of Dixons means there’s more work to be done before profits start moving in the right direction again," said Hargreaves Lansdown
Sainsbury-Asda merger may still get CMA approval despite opposition from MPs, analysts say
MPs have accused Sainsbury's and Asda bosses of "talking baloney" and quoting "Mickey Mouse figures" in response to questions about their proposed merger
M&S should consider tie-up with Amazon, says former digital boss
"Ultimately working with the likes of Amazon is probably a good way to tackle the digital space," said former M&S global digital director Marcus East
M&S considers ditching Per Una fashion brand amid struggles in clothing division
Per Una is one of several brands to be put under review by chief executive Steve Rowe as part of a cost-cutting drive
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes account firmly higher, bolstered by weaker pound
The UK pound shed 0.38% against the Euro, while it was off 0.30% against the US dollar.
Ocado edges higher after FTSE 100 promotion news, upgrade by UBS on Kroger deal
UBS raised its rating for Ocado to ‘neutral’ from ‘sell’ after hiking their target price to 750p from 280p as it believes the firm is now a software and tech licensing company
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in the red as Trump's tariffs spook investors
Tariffs are to be imposed on steel and aloooooooooomin'm imported from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
Investments and investor services
Johnson Matthey and FirstGroup set to provide Thursday’s highlight results
Platinum refiner Johnson Matthey provides one of the week’s rare blue-chip appearances, whereas FirstGroup investors will want answers after management snub takeover advances recently.
FTSE 100 drops 1.26% as political turmoil in Europe hits
In the current markets, the pound fell 0.49% against the US dollar at 1.1472..
M&S could escape FTSE 100 relegation by a whisker, but other high street names look vulnerable
Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said: ‘Marks and Spencer looks like it’s going to avoid relegation from the FTSE 100 by the skin of its teeth”
Archive
Quiet week seen following UK bank holiday, with any dividend news from RBS's AGM the main interest
Week Ahead also includes full-year results from platinum refiner Johnson Matthey PLC, transport operator Firstgroup PLC, and discount retailer B&M European Value Retail SA
M&S faces FTSE 100 relegation in index's quarterly reshuffle
Marks and Spencer's clothing brand needs a complete refresh and its online offering needs sorting out fast, according to Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com
M&S profits plunge on store closure costs but shares bounce higher as results beat forecasts
M&S has accelerated its store closure programme as it addresses the challenges in the retail market
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes firmly in red as resource stocks suffer
Global markets are in the red after Donald Trump said he was not happy with the progress of talks with China.
Archive
M&S shareholders braced for another gloomy update
M&S announced shop closures a day ahead of its results announcement; was that to spread the bad news over two days or to ensure the bad news did not overshadow a decent trading performance?
M&S confirms 100 store closures ahead of full year results as it moves sales online
"Closing stores isn't easy but it is vital for the future of M&S," said Sacha Berendji, director of retail operations
Dixons Carphone appoints Clare Pettitt as interim finance chief
Jonny Mason, the finance chief at cycle shop Halfords PLC (LON:HFD), will join as the group chief financial officer at a date yet to be confirmed
M&S appoints former Dixons Carphone UK boss as non-executive director
New M&S chairman Archie Norman has been shaking up the board since joining the retailer last September
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 propelled to new record close as pound weakens and Dow Jones breaches 25,000
FTSE 100 reached a new record close on Monday after achieving it last time on Thursday
Marks & Spencer is facing FTSE 100 trap-door and that’s a major red flag for retail stalwarts
Falling out of London's premier index would be a powerful symbol of the retailer's decline but, what does it say about the broader sector?
Morgan Stanley upgrades UK equities to ‘overweight’ despite Brexit uncertainty
Equities should benefit from higher commodity prices and rising corporate activity, Morgan Stanley said.
FTSE 100 closes up, but off earlier highs, as Sainsbury-Asda merger news boosts supermarket takeover rumour mill
The pound reverses earlier losses against the euro as the spotlight remains on the Sainsbury-Asda merger
M&S shares gain as Credit Suisse upgrades the stock to 'neutral'
A pick-up in real wages and easing cost inflation should give M&S some breathing room for its turnaround plan, according to Credit Suisse
Utilitywise shares rise as new customers drive revenue growth
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers in London on Monday
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher, buoyed by hopes for City post-Brexit
FTSE 100 closed around 30 points higher at 7,398 on Minday
Ascent Resources climbs as formal sale process started after producing revenues in 2017
Some of the top news-driven risers in London at 3.45pm ...
UBS cuts target for Debenhams and Marks and Spencer as it mulls impact of shift to online retail
The Swiss investment bank said based on the costs of Next's channel shift, both Debenhams and M&S could see profit margins affected
Next, M&S, Pets at Home and B&M slump on Citigroup downgrade
Citi said investors should buy online over bricks and mortar retailers and European over UK stocks
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 finishes lower as mining stocks retreat on Chinese tariff fears
Investors remain nervous over the prospect of an escalating trade war between the US and China but were somewhat placated by anaemic jobs growth in March in the US, which has made four rate rises this year less likely
FTSE 100 closes positively, just, but miners weigh
The blue-chip benchmark closed up around three points at 7,034, with the big cap miners lagging
Investments and investor services
IGas Energy advances as Cuadrilla achieves major milestone
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers in London on Tuesday
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in red as traders still jittery about macro issues
The pound is up 0.36% against the Euro at the time of writing, while it is up 0.07% against the US dollar
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher as trade war fears ease
The premier UK blue-chip exchange added around 45 points at 7,203, while FTSE 250 also stormed higher, up 193 points at 19,968.
UK retail shares drop after Toys R Us UK and Maplin enter administration
Toys R US and Maplin have struggled to cope with weakening consumer confidence and rising online competition from the likes of Amazon
Archive
Could price-to-sales be the key to identifying blue-chips on the recovery trail?
Since the "bombed out" virtual portfolio bit the dust, we've lacked a stock filter that identifies recovery stocks; once again drawing on the simple ideas of Michael O'Higgins ("Dogs of the Dow"), John Harrington takes a look at the price-t
Tesco confirms final dividend and says Booker CEO will head retail arm after merger
Tesco confirmed it will pay a final dividend of 2p and expects to report a profit of at least £1.575bn
M&S to shut six UK stores by the end of April, with a further eight stores also identified for closure
The FTSE 100 listed retailer said the six stores that will close by the end of April are in Birkenhead, Bournemouth, Durham, Fforestfach, Putney and Redditch
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in the red as sterling booms
“If he intended it, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has done a first class job of whacking the dollar,” declared Neil Wilson at ETX Capital. .
Investments and investor services
Prospex Oil and Gas boosted by new discovery, Petro Matad pinched by US$16mln placing
A look at some of the top risers and fallers in London today.
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes on a high but latest UK stats weigh on retailers
Turns out it was a blue Christmas for the UK retail sector, with sales data showing a worse than expected December period.
Capita shares rally as M&S extends digital customer contact partnership by further five years
In a statement, Capita said the contract renewal and expansion commences April 2018 and is worth approximately £70mln over the contract term
M&S simplifies distribution network with new centre as part of overhaul
The new logistic centre will open in Hertfordshire next year
Food inflation helps UK grocers to deliver record Christmas sales but caution remains over general merchandise
Top spot in the Proactive grocer awards goes to Morrisons, while there was only real candidate for the wooden spoon – M&S
M&S shares retreat on drop in UK food and clothing sales over Christmas
The retailer reported a 1.4% drop in total UK like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to December 30
FTSE 100 closes at third successive new high but retailers lag
FTSE 100 closed in London around 14 points higher at 7,762
Marks and Spencer poaches group finance director of Dixons Carphone to be its chief financial officer
The high street stores giant said Humphrey Singer will take up his appointment on a date to be confirmed. He will replace Helen Weir who, as previously announced, is leaving M&S on March 31 to pursue a portfolio career
Investments and investor services
How will Tesco and Marks and Spencer follow Morrison Supermarkets and J Sainsbury’s when they report on Thursday?
Tesco, Marks & Spencer and ASOS are next on the agenda.
Eat my shorts: Morrisons gives short sellers a lesson after strong Christmas trading news
According to the website www.shorttracker.co.uk, Morrisons is the seventh-most shorted stock in the UK – meaning traders are betting that the share price is primed to fall - with some 11.5% of its shares on loan, according to publicly decla
Joules bucks high street gloom as sales soar over Christmas
Debenhams and Mothercare have both complained about a slowing UK consumer environment, but there were no such issues for clothing retailer Joules
FTSE 100 reaches new closing high with supermarkets in support
London's top tier index reached a new record high on Tuesday, led by supermarket shares
FTSE 100 closes in red as Wall Street comes off recent highs
London's top tier index closed down nearly 28 points at 7,696
Archive
Updates from UK food retailers on the menu, as well as high street stalwart M&S in coming week
Week ahead includes trading updates from supermarkets Wm Morrison Supermarkets, J Sainsbury, Tesco, John Lewis's Waitrose, plus clothing retailer Marks & Spencer
FTSE 100 pops higher again to another record close
It was another quiet day in London but also another record close
Aldi's 2017 sales top £10bn for the first time after record Christmas
Aldi plans to continue its expansion in the UK after opening 76 stores last year
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 feeds off Wall Street rally to close near 7,700
If you happen to work for a FTSE 100 company, your boss has already earned more in the past two-and-a-half days then the average UK employee will this year
Next's Christmas surprise lifts UK retail stocks ahead of slew of festive trading updates
An unexpected rise in Next's sales over Christmas boosted shares of other UK retailers due to post similar trading statements over coming weeks
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher; Next keeps festive cheer rolling
On a separate note, Mifid II comes into force today with the aim of increasing transparency and making everyone in the investment chain more accountable for their decisions
Brexit could hamper turnaround of Carpetright and other UK retailers, says Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank downgraded its rating on Carpetright but upgraded ASOS as it took a look at the European non-food retail sector
ASOS upgraded by Deutsche Bank as part of New Year review of retail sector
Deutsche Bank has identified a number of themes for the retail sector: continue to favour online clothing sellers over bricks & mortar operations; beware of "value traps" and turnaround plays
M&S sells Hong Kong and Macau stores to franchise partner as part of overhaul
The deal comes as M&S works to turnaround the business following a slump in clothing sales
FTSE 100 closes in red as UK manufacturing growth slows more than expected
The FTSE 100 gave up some of the gains made on its recent record-breaking run, with the pound's rise partially to blame
FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 set new record highs on first trading day after Christmas
For the 29th year in the past 34, the blue chips have closed up on the first trading day after Christmas...
M&S and Next shares slump after H&M results underline tough retail market
H&M posted a 4% drop in fourth quarter sales as it struggled to adapt to the online trend
FTSE 100 ends at high point of the day but just short of 7,500
A slump in the value of the pound was, as usual, a signal for investors to pile into FTSE 100 stocks
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 finishes in the red as BoE keeps rates on hold
FTSE 100 closed down over 48 points at 7,448., while FTSE 250 shed over 55 to 20,006
M&S long-run earnings unlikely to grow, says Goldman Sachs as it cuts target price
M&S is said to be considering pulling out of building projects across the UK as it tries to turn around the business
FTSE 100 closes higher; miners lag and Brexit wranglings continue
FTSE 100 closed over 38 points higher on the day to 7,338; FTSE 250 shares added over 81
FTSE 100 closes higher as pound firms; Shire top riser
The latest ONS data showed that retail sales grew 0.3% in October - ahead of the 0.1% economists had expected - which has boosted the blue chip retailers
Marks & Spencer finance chief steps down as it reports decline in first half profits
M&S reported a 0.3% drop in first half like-for-like sales, with declines in its food and clothing division
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in positive territory amid lacklustre US trade, crude higher
Defensive stocks like BAT and Imperial Brands are in demand suggesting the markets are exercising a bit of caution after the recent record-breaking run ...