Marks & Spencer will be hoping to keep up with Next as it reveals its Christmas trading update on Thursday. 

Under chief executive Steve Rowe, sales rose 5 per cent in the first half of its financial year as against pre-pandemic, with the model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley proving a popular draw.

Russ Mould, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: ‘Analysts will look for how online sales are faring, and how the M&S link-up with Ocado for food delivery continues to fare.’ 

Follower of fashion: Under Steve Rowe, sales rose 5 per cent in the first half of its financial year as against pre-pandemic, with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured) proving popular

Follower of fashion: Under Steve Rowe, sales rose 5 per cent in the first half of its financial year as against pre-pandemic, with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured) proving popular

Follower of fashion: Under Steve Rowe, sales rose 5 per cent in the first half of its financial year as against pre-pandemic, with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (pictured) proving popular

Mould added that investors would also be keeping an eye out for any affirmation of, or change to, the £500m profit before tax which Rowe had predicted after first-half results. 

Michael Hewson, at CMC Markets, said M&S’s first dividend since 2019 could become more likely if the third-quarter results are strong.

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This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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