1 April 2021 | 12:22pm
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 was up 0.5% to 6,745.29 ahead of the Easter break as investors backed shares which will benefit from the reopening plan which is set to gather pace in the UK in April.
Clothing retailer Next has jumped 4.1% to £81.92 after it posted a 15% fall in full price sales for 2020/21 and pre-tax profit of £342 million, in line with guidance but said online sales growth is set to continue.
In the first eight weeks of the 2021/22 year, Next said its online sales have been stronger than expected and has raised its central profit guidance by £30 million from £670 million to £700 million for 2021/22.