UK RETAIL ROUNDUP: Marks & Spencer Resumes Sales Growth

U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer Group PLC (MKS.LN) Wednesday reported its first rise in quarterly comparable sales for over two years, joining rivals in reporting robust Christmas sales while also cautioning that 2010's prospects look uncertain.

M&S reported U.K. sales from stores open a year up 0.8% in the 13 weeks to Dec. 26, missing consensus expectations for a 1.2% rise, although the current period did not include the first day of the company's sales. Adjusting for this, sales would have been up around 1.8%, the group said.

Upmarket food retailer and department store chain John Lewis Tuesday reported record sales over the festive season, while clothing group Next PLC (NXT.LN) raised its full-year guidance after a strong showing in the peak selling season. Both warned of an uncertain outlook for the New Year.

Britain is taking longer to emerge from recession than most major economies. Still, indications so far are that Christmas 2009 was buoyant, although some of the boost may have come from shoppers bringing forward purchases ahead of a rise in value added sales tax on Jan. 1. U.K. retailers are also cautious about prospects with taxes expected to rise this year to rein in government debt.

Other U.K. retailers that are scheduled to report trading performances in coming days include:

Thu, Jan. 7:   J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) 3Q trading update 
               JD Sports Fashion PLC (JD.LN) trading update 
Fri, Jan. 8:   Ted Baker PLC trading update (TBK.LN) 
Mon, Jan. 11:  Blacks Leisure (BSLA.LN) trading update 
Tue, Jan. 12:  Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) trading update 
               Dunelm Group Plc (DNLM.LN) trading update 
               Topps Tiles PLC (TPT.LN) trading update 
               British Retail Consortium Christmas Sales 
               Debenhams PLC (DEB.LN) trading update 
Wed, Jan. 13: Game Group PLC (GMG.LN) trading update 
Thu, Jan. 14:  DSG International PLC (DSGI.LN) trading 
               update 
               Home Retail Group PLC (HOME.LN) 
               Halfords Group PLC (HFD.LN) trading update 
               Mothercare PLC (MTC.LN) trading update 
               HMV Group PLC (HMV.LN) trading update 
Mon, Jan. 18:  Asos PLC (ASC.LN) trading update 
Tue, Jan. 19:  Burberry PLC (BRBY.LN) trading update 
               Carphone Warehouse PLC (CPW.LN) 
Wed, Jan. 20:  Kesa Electricals PLC (KESA.LN) trading 
               update 
Thu, Jan. 21:  William Morrison Supermarkets PLC (MRW.LN) 
Wed, Jan. 27:  WH Smith PLC (SMWH.LN) AGM trading update 
Wed, Feb. 3:   Carpetright PLC trading update 
Thu, Feb. 18:  Kingfisher PLC (KGF.LN) 
 

-By Sten Stovall, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]