Article: M & S expected to suffer from downturn

The Week Ahead

J SAINSBURY put out some surprisingly resilient numbers last week, but the market is not so bullish when it comes to Marks & Spencer, which is updating on sales tomorrow. As customers have traded down in the current environment, M&S is expected to suffer.

A Reuters analysts poll expects sales from those stores open for at least a year to have fallen by up to 7.5 per cent during the fourth quarter. The consensus for profits in 2008/2009 is 592m.

The predictions have raised fears among analysts that M & S will be unable to maintain the 22.5p dividend of last year, and is also expected to heap pressure on boss Sir Stuart Rose.

Today: On Friday, 888 Holdings stock looked buoyant ...

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