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(Sharecast News) - FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,653.56 -0.41%
Retail giant Next boosted its sales outlook on Thursday following a strong start to the year, but warned that consumer confidence was set to deteriorate as the year progressed.
The fashion and home retailer said full-price sales in the first eight weeks of the year had been ahead of expectations.
As a result, it has hiked its first-half forecast to 6.5%, having previously guided for sales growth of 3.5%.
However, the retailer - which is known for its cautious outlook - did not upgrade its second-half guidance. Instead it was kept at 3.5%, with Next citing strong comparatives and potentially weakening conditions.
Marks & Spencer and Primark owner AB Foods also gained.
M&G, Taylor Wimpey, Schroders and Melrose fell as they traded without entitlement to a dividend.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 - Risers
Next (NXT) 10,945.00p 9.60%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 345.10p 2.49%
Compass Group (CPG) 2,553.00p 2.28%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,936.00p 1.47%
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (DI) (CCEP) 6,640.00p 1.22%
Unilever (ULVR) 4,533.00p 0.96%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,774.00p 0.87%
Haleon (HLN) 384.40p 0.60%
Beazley (BEZ) 903.50p 0.56%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 237.60p 0.42%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
M&G (MNG) 203.90p -6.34%
Schroders (SDR) 354.80p -5.29%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,795.00p -5.03%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 107.50p -4.91%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,220.00p -3.40%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,302.50p -3.24%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 510.00p -3.23%
SEGRO (SGRO) 682.00p -2.99%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,072.00p -2.55%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,160.00p -2.27%
