Good morning. A 15.2 per cent rise in online sales at Next in the run-up to Christmas helped to offset a 9.2 per cent fall in sales in its shops, the clothing retailer has reported this morning. Across the group, year-on-year sales were up 1.5 per cent, including interest income, between October 28 and December 29, which appears to be much better than the City had feared. Shares in Next have fallen more than 20 per cent since the start of November on mounting speculation that disappointing Christmas trading would force the retailer to cut full-year guidance. There is a downgrade to profit forecasts but it is marginal and the company states that its central guidance for full-year profit is now £723 million, 0.6 per…

Source: The Times January 03, 2019 09:00 UTC