FTSE 100 reverses and closes in red as City packs up for Christmas
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says that UK GDP grew by 1.7% in the three months to September
Company
Next PLC
LON:NXT
Next plc is a United Kingdom-based retailer offering products in clothing, footwear, accessories and home products
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Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in red; IMF cuts UK growth forecasts
The FTSE 100 index closed down 18.87 points at 7,525 on a day of light volumes
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
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in red as market awaits US jobs report
UK stocks could do with a catalyst and tomorrow's US jobs numbers might provide it
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
Archive
US jobs to dominate with December rate hike expected, plus updates from Stagecoach, Berkeley Group
The Week Ahead diary includes the December US jobs data, plus corporate updates from Stagecoach PLC, Ferguson PLC, IG Group PLC, and Berkeley Group PLC
Banks higher ahead of next week’s stress tests results on FCA Libor support news
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers today in London
FTSE 100 close down as sterling firms and retailers disappoint
Around 3.10pm, the FTSE 100 index was down about 6 points at 7,411, below the day’s peak of 7,425.19, but above the low of 7,389.54
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
New Look is latest retailer to fall victim to tough retail market as it swings to half year loss
New Look's new boss has slated previous management for chasing sales too hard with discounts
Christmas may be coming but retailer Next doesn't seem to know what it will bring
Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital said “Most worrying, Next says sales volatility makes it ‘very hard to determine any underlying sales trend’. This poses significant problems for investors"
Debenhams battered by Liberum rating downgrade, cautious trading update from high street peer Next
Liberum’s analysts cut their stance for Debenhams to ‘sell’ from ‘hold’ with a reduced target price of 40p, down from 58p, after concluding that the group’s “fundamentals do not appeal"
Next shares tank as it warns sales performance relies on the weather amid volatile market
Next remains cautious about the rest of the year, saying it is "pessimistic" about the Christmas trading period
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 ends slightly in red as traders jumpy ahead of tomorrow's BoE decision
At around 3.55pm, the UK blue chip index was up 5 points to 7,498
Archive
Paddy Power's trading update may be overshadowed by government report on bookies
No matter how good Paddy Power's results are, chances are the main focus will be on the government's report on gaming machines, released yesterday morning
Archive
Interest rate decisions in the UK and US could spook investors in Halloween week
Week ahead includes interest rate decisions from the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve, as well as updates from HSBC, BT, Next, BP, and Royal Dutch Shell
Next slides as Morgan Stanley says its core business is deteriorating
“We think it concerning that sales in the core UK Next Directory business are also now beginning to fall, suggesting to us that the Next customer proposition may be losing resonance with UK consumers”
Rurelec shares more than double as power plant operator confirms takeover talks
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers today in London
FTSE 100 closes lower ahead of FOMC minutes
The FTSE 100 index closed down 4.46 at 7,533, below the session peak of 7,550.17 but above the low of 7,519.60
FTSE 100 closes firmly in positive territory as sterling slides
The FTSE 100 rose to within a couple of points of 7,500 after US markets opened higher
Archive
Tesco and Greggs to give a taste of high street conditions; hurricanes could have blown away US jobs
Week ahead to include first half results from supermarkets giant Tesco PLC, an update from high bakery chain Greggs PLC (LON:GRG), and the latest US jobs data
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes a tad lower as focus turns to Fed
Sterling's strength weighed on FTSE 100 stocks today
Next sees raft of target hikes after upbeat results, but majority stay below current share price
The likes of Deutsche Bank, UBS, JPMorgan Cazenove, Jefferies International, and Societe Generale all raised their targets for Next shares after the group surprised with a confident first-half results statement and raised full-year guidance
FTSE 100 wilts as sterling's rally continues
The FTSE 100 fell 80 points to 7,215 on a good day for the sterling
Next still facing UK retail challenges amid weak consumer demand, analysts caution
Weak consumer spending will continue to drag on Next's sales this year
Metminco surges as its gets go-ahead for underground development at Miraflores
Some of the main news-driven risers and fallers at 3.45pm...
Next shares surge as the fashion retailer lifts full-year estimates
Next said it expects the external environment to remain difficult but its prospects going forward appear "somewhat less challenging" than they did six months ago
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes firmly lower as pound strengthens; Next surges
Sterling surged past US$1.33 shortly after the Bank of England voted in favour of keeping interest rates at 0.25%, with analysts describing the move as a 'hawkish hold'
Archive
Bank of England meeting key on retail Thursday, with updates due from Next, Morrison's, and Booker
Day ahead includes Bank of England Monetary policy meeting, UK retail sales data, updates from Next PLC, William Morrison Supermarkets PLC, and Booker PLC
Berenberg puts the boot into Next, downgrading to 'sell' after recent post-update rally
In a note to clients, the German broker’s analysts said the 10% rally in Next’s share price following the weather-driven second-quarter sales beat “provides material downside” and “an opportunity to short the stock”
FTSE 100 closes almost 30 points higher as geopolitical fears ease
The index of blue-chip shares advanced 23 points as the pound declined after official data showed inflation remained unchanged in July
New Look sees no sign of tough UK fashion retail market letting up as first quarter sales fall
New Look's chief executive Anders Kristiansen expects challenging market conditions to persist into 2018 amid Brexit uncertainty
Next shares soar as it returns to quarterly sales growth and declares special dividend
Next has raised its full year sales guidance after warm weather boosted its second quarter performance
FTSE 100 finishes 63 points up, boosted by weak pound
Around 3pm, the UK benchmark index was ahead almost 65 points at 7,476, just holding off the day’s peak of 7,484.53 hit after the Bank of England left UK rate unchanged
Archive
Next to unveil improved second quarter with sales boosted by warm weather
Next is expected to shine in its second quarter trading update
FTSE 100 manages to hold onto gains; Severn Trent top gainer
With an hour and a half of trading to go in London, the FTSE 100 index was 36 points higher at 7,404, albeit remaining below an early peak of 7,425.52
Hammerson reports rise in first half profits but is cautious on Brexit uncertainty
Hammerson's net asset value grew in the first half despite the impact of the Brexit vote on UK retailers
FTSE 100 ends almost 57 higher buoyed by retailers
London markets started the day on the front foot and haven't looked back ...
Marks & Spencer's clothing division faces long road to recovery as Brexit hits UK retailers
Marks & Spencer is faced with the pressures of a UK retail slump, fierce competition in the grocery sector and weak consumer spending
FTSE 100 closes 40 points down as retailers weigh
The market chose to interpret Broadbent's comments as a vote for the status quo
Archive
Marks & Spencer's struggling clothing unit may improve in first quarter but outlook uncertain
M&S faces a tough UK retail market as consumers become increasingly squeezed by rising inflation and stagnant wage growth
FTSE 100 pares losses despite sharp fall in US equities
Lancashire Holdings rose in sympathy with Novae as the Lloyd's specialist insurer sold out to AXIS Holdings
Archive
One year on: BT, Royal Mail and ITV among worst-hit FTSE 100 stocks since the Brexit vote
A weaker pound following the Brexit vote has given the FTSE 100 and other UK indices a boost in the year since the Britain voted to leave the European Union
UK retail sector in crisis as consumers face disposable income 'recession' on Brexit woes
The Bank of England expects inflation to exceed 3% in autumn as the pound continues to be weighed by down Brexit worries
Next walloped by Credit Suisse downgrade
“With earnings, margins and cash conversion continuing to fall we regard Next as a value trap.”
Petro Matad rallies on Mongolian licence extension
Risers and fallers: DFS, Next, ANGLE boosted by Barts research, Starcom wins container order, Sprue Aegis delivers bullish AGM
FTSE 100 closes 55 down and UK mid-caps plunge; BoE raises prospect of rate rise
FTSE 100 closed down 55 at 7,419 as retail shares took a beating
RBS, Lloyds and Barclays slump after general election leads to hung parliament
Banks, retailers, media and housebuilders are the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 on the shock news of a hung parliament
Fashionable upgrades lift shares in both Next and Primark-owner AB Foods
Investec Securities upped its stance for Next to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’, while raising its target price to 4,750p from 3,900p.
Fruitflow dietary supplement group Provexis gets a boost
A look at some of the biggest London-listed risers and fallers today
Footsie up ahead of close; unrest at ITV hits shares
The bulls could not quite push the top-share index above 7,400. Tomorrow they'll have a harder job with ex-div stocks lopping about 14 points off the Footsie
FTSE 100 firm but off highs despite new intra-day records for US indices
The UK blue chip index finished 41 points higher at 7,342, retreating from the session peak of 7,359 but still well above the day’s low of 7,300
Out of fashion: Next was once both a City and high street darling, but not anymore
Jordan Hiscott, chief trader at Ayondo Markets pointed out: “The dominance of Next was once undisputed. Back in 2010, the firm regularly outperformed its industry peers, thanks to its strong presence on high streets and in out of town store
Next shares drop as retailer cuts upper end of full-year guidance as first-quarter sales fall
In a trading update for the thirteen weeks to Saturday 29 April, Next said its full price sales were down -3.0%, while total sales, including markdown sales, were down -2.5%
FTSE 100 closes higher as UK services data provides cheer
The FTSE 100 ended up 13.57 at 7,248 as investors weigh economic data and corporate earnings
Archive
Cash flow in focus as Royal Dutch Shell releases results on Thursday
Royal Dutch Shell and supermarket retailer Morison set to be among Thursday's highlights.
Archive
Next was a small-cap once
Who will be the next Next? Here our small-cap guru Zak looks at a couple of candidates
Where to invest as inflation begins to grip UK-focused stocks
Stocks with pricing power, such as pharmaceuticals and utilities, are most likely to weather the impact of rising inflation.
Next sees recent post-results rally curtailed by downgrade in rating from Exane
In a note on the UK general retail sector, Exane cut its stance on the FTSE 100-listed firm back to ‘underperform’ from ‘neutral’ and reduced its target price by 5% to 3,700p after the recent “bounce”
Next shares reverse gains as Deutsche Bank cites risks of Brexit-fuelled inflation
Next is facing a number of risks including weaker UK consumer demand, market share losses and a rapid decline in its credit customers, Deutsche Bank said
Next's chief reveals what went wrong for the retailer after annual profit falls
Next's chief executive Simon Wolfson said the fashion retailer has taken steps to address the impact of rising inflation on consumer spending
Next generating strong cash flows despite profit warning, analysts say
Next may have reported its first decline in annual profit since the financial crisis but it impressed analysts with strong cash flows and its investment in the brand
Next shares jump as investors shrug off annual profit decline and note robust cash flows
Next's shares have surged today even as the retailer reported a drop in full year profits and revenue, reflecting weak sales in its retail business
FTSE 100 closes higher with retailer Next top riser
FTSE 100 was three points higher at 7,238, Next rises strongly.
Archive
Next to report first annual profit decline in eight years as Brexit hurts retailers
Next plc is facing the industry-wide pressure of rising inflation but its issues are also company-specific
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 ends little changed as UK lines up on Brexit grid
The druggies and miners were on offer early on – although the movements were barely perceptible on a lacklustre Monday morning.
Archive
Next firmly on the back foot as shoppers batten down hatches
Week ahead: Next, Kingfisher, Smiths Group ,Satellite Solutions ...
FTSE shares end lower as sterling marks 8-week low vs dollar on Brexit jitters
FTSE 100 shares closed lower on Tuesday after investors turned edgy over Brexit plans which hit banking and retail shares as well as took sterling to an 8-week low against the US dollar
Broker Redburn lights touch paper under Next shares with upgrade to 'buy' from 'sell'
In a note to clients, entitled ‘Crisis? What Crisis?’, Redburn analysts Geoff Lowery and Emily Want concluded that “the Next Brand is mature rather than malnourished.”
FTSE stocks mark record highs with Wall St as Trump boosts construction, commodity stocks
FTSE 100 stocks, just like Wall Street, defied soothsayers’ prognoses that investors didn’t much like a threadbare speech to Congress from US President Donald Trump overnight, and pledged their vote to his spending ambitions as record heigh
Clothing retailer Next names ex-Bunzl boss, Michael Roney as new chairman from August
Roney will take over from current incumbent John Barton, who will retire on August 1 having been the retailer’s non-executive chairman since 2006.
Associated British Foods “sweeter than it seems”, says Deutsche Bank
Following AB Foods’ trading update yesterday, the German banking giant reiterated its buy recommendation and 3,200p target price
Snow worries? How the High Street has fared over the Christmas trading period
With an avalanche of updates to trudge through – not least a blizzard of them today – the actual outcome has not sent as many shivers through the City as expected.
FTSE 100 shares hit 11th successive record high as sterling dips
FTSE 100 shares did it again on Thursday – the 11th successive record high close – as turbulence in sterling finally gave in to a further steady decline and helped push stocks higher. All except retailers, that is
Day ahead: Christmas retail merry-go-round continues with M&S, Primark-owner AB Foods, and Tesco
After Next kicked off the sector Christmas updates with a profit warning last week, shareholders should be more nervous on what M&S and Primark will deliver.
FTSE 100 hits fresh record high as sterling sags
FTSE 100 stocks closed at a record high on Monday, extending from its feat last week, as it marked the eighth successive record peak, largely thanks to a weakening pound
Week ahead: Blizzard of trading updates to show the icy front on UK high streets
Given Next’s disappointing update this week, news from Marks and Spencer and Primark-owner Associated British Foods could send the most shivers through the sector.
FTSE 100 in positive territory, Panmure spike a mystery
Footsie was expected to hit another high today, but it has not happened yet
FTSE 100 stocks hit fresh record before slipping as US stocks turn soft
The FTSE 100 index reached a new peak of 7,211.96 today, exceeding the level it hit on Tuesday, the first session of 2017, and was up 19 points at 7,209 at 3.30pm.
Woolly jumper needed: Cold wind blows through clothing sector after Next warns on profits
Next's latest gloomy trading update wiped more than 10% off a share price that had already slumped by a third in 2016.
Broker comment weighs on specialty chemicals company Elementis
Elementis shares fell nearly 4% after German bank Berenberg cut its rating to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’, with the downgrade largely made on a valuation basis.
Next slumps as it cuts its profit guidance and warns on outlook as key Christmas sales fall
Next said its central guidance for pretax profit for the full-year to end-January 2017 is now £792mln, down from the £805mln indicated previously.
FTSE 100 closes firmer, small-caps mark fresh record high, but retailers drop
FTSE 100 stocks closed firmer on Wednesday but a grim outlook for 2017 from Next plc left retailer shares in the bargain bucket
Day Ahead - Next, Topps Tiles to kick off key Christmas retail trading updates
With the crucial festive period finally over, it is time for retailers to count the coppers with the post-Christmas trading update season kicking off in earnest tomorrow.
HSBC believes retailers should have seen “resilient demand” over Christmas, but thinks the outlook for 2017 is "more challenging"
Looking in to 2017, the HSBC analysts said that sterling’s post-Brexit vote weakness and the resulting cost push to inflation will not be easily passed on to the consumer.
FTSE 100 and small-cap stocks chalk record highs
FTSE 100 and small-cap stocks ended at fresh record highs on Tuesday, the first session of 2017, after being buoyed by higher Wall Street on bullish US factory data, 18-month high oil prices and even bumper Chinese data
Investments and investor services
Week Ahead: Next PLC feeling the chill
Happy New Year, Proactive people! That's 2016 done with; Next!
FTSE 100: the good, the bad, and the ugh!
It was a fantastic year for the miners, less so for the airlines and the retailers.
FTSE shares end flat despite resources stocks early lift
FTSE 100 stocks closed flat on Monday despite an early sprint by mining and energy stocks. Meanwhile, fund manager Henderson Group had sobering news for investors seeking dividend income
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 stocks end higher thanks to miners and construction
FTSE 100 stocks ended higher on Thursday thanks to miners and the construction sector, while the laggards included venerable British names Royal Mail and Rolls Royce
Archive
Brokers: 25% upside as well as big yield at Imperial Brands
A round-up of some of today's broker commentary
Weather and competition are main risks to Next says UBS
UBS rates Next as a ‘buy’ and its £58.50 target suggests some 15% upside to the UK retailer's current share price.
Are Next's glory days over?
Credit Suisse doubts Next's ability to pass on rising costs and questions the wisdom of continuing to add space
Risers and fallers: Next, Sirius Minerals, Victoria Oil & Gas
Shares in Victoria Oil & Gas were up after it spudded two development wells at its Logbaba gas field in Cameroon
FTSE 100 closes down as StanChart drops again, US poll jitters
London's FTSE 100 closed sharply lower on Wednesday as Standard Chartered topped the losers' list for a second successive session, while markets grew jittery about a possible Donald Trump electoral victory
Just Eat waiting for the weather to turn
Results previews for online food ordering enabler Just Eat and house builder Persimmon
FTSE 100 ends month lower despite WPP’s surge
FTSE 100 shares ended lower on Monday, despite a valiant surge from advertising behemoth WPP