Below is a list of expexted dates for trading updates from the retailers. The general consensus is that it has been a tough xmas for the high street retailers though post xmas sales have done ok. What do others think?

Trading update dates:

Wed 5th - Next
Fri 7th - Greggs
Tue 11th - Wm Morrison
Wed 12th - Burberry, Dixons, House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer, Matalan, Peacocks
Thu 13th - GUS, JJB Sports, Mothercare, Signet, J Sainsbury, Tesco
Fri 14th - Austin Reed, Bodyshop, Woolworths
Mon 17th - Kingfisher, Monsoon
Tue 18th - HMV
Wed 19th - Boots, Somerfield, WH Smith


My own opinions are as follows:

Winners:
Tesco, Greggs, Monsoon

Losers:
WH SMith, Boots, JJB Sports, Sainsburys, WM Morrison

I currently have a pairs trade on Tesco/Sainsbury and am short JJB Sports.

Not great news from woolworths:

Woolworths Group Plc


Post-Christmas Trading Statement


4 January 2005





Woolworths Group plc is today providing an update on its trading performance
over the Christmas period and for the 48 weeks to 1 January 2005.


In the four weeks to 1 January 2005, like-for-like sales in Woolworths Mainchain
were flat against last year. This followed a weak November in which sales of
entertainment products and toys were disappointing. In entertainment, there was
a shortage of electronic games hardware and key DVD releases underperformed
market expectations. In toys, the overall market was difficult and the sales
uplift in the Mainchain did not fully reflect the increase in space given to the
category.


In the four weeks to 1 January 2005, like-for-like sales at Woolworths big W
declined by 8.0% and at MVC by 4.7%. The performance at Woolworths big W
reflects the impact of the phased exit from a number of non-core categories in
preparation for the disposal or cut down of a number of sites. MVC was impacted
by an unusually high number of competitor openings in over two thirds of its
catchments.


In the 48 weeks to 1 January 2005, total Group sales, including share of joint
ventures, rose by 2.9%, with the Entertainment Wholesale and Publishing
businesses up by 31.6% and the Retail fascias down by 3.3%. Like-for-like sales
in the Mainchain were down by 1.5%, Woolworths big W was down by 4.1% and MVC
was down by 5.3%.


The gross margin for the combined Mainchain and Woolworths big W businesses has
continued to improve and subject to the year-end store stock counts, it is
anticipated that for the year as a whole it will be approximately 30 basis
points ahead of last year.


Despite the weak retail sales, the Group maintained a tight control over costs
and stock. As a consequence, it is anticipated that at the year-end, seasonal
stocks will be at a comparable level to last year. Throughout the year, the
Company has performed well operationally and has delivered a high level of
in-store availability together with improved levels of customer service.


At the 58 refurbished 10/10 stores, sales and margins continue to perform ahead
of the rest of the Mainchain. This performance, combined with second year growth
and reduced capital expenditure per store continues to evidence a sound
investment case.


Good progress continues to be made with the restructuring of Woolworths big W.
Contracts have been exchanged for the complete disposal of seven sites subject
to receipt of landlord approval. Interest has been shown in the excess space in
a number of the remaining stores and two stores were cut down in October and
traded through Christmas. The net exceptional cost of the big W restructuring is
not anticipated to exceed the guidance given last March, although it will be
spread across two financial years and the cash impact is expected to be
substantially lower. A more detailed update will be given within the preliminary
results announcement.


Entertainment UK has performed well over the Christmas period and despite the
pressure on its gross margin the increased volume from new customers will result
in its profits for the year being marginally ahead of last year.


2entertain, our joint venture with BBC Worldwide, has enjoyed a particularly
strong Christmas with three titles ('Little Britain-Complete First Series', '
That Peter Kay Thing' and 'Jeremy Clarkson-Hot Metal') all being in the top 20
DVD chart in the week before Christmas. As a consequence, the full year profit
contribution to the Woolworths Group from video and music publishing will be
ahead of last year.


The Board anticipates that the Group profit for the year, before tax,
exceptional items and goodwill, will be similar to last year.


Commenting on the Christmas trading performance Trevor Bish-Jones, Chief
Executive said:


'Although we are disappointed with the sales performance in our Retail business,
we have made good progress on improving the gross margin and remain confident
about the potential of Woolworths and our Entertainment businesses. Woolworths
has responded well to investment in systems and stores, which has resulted in a
better store environment, an improved product offering and has made us
significantly stronger operationally. Using our strong positive cash flow we are
confident that continued investment in our stores will underpin future growth.'


The Group intends to announce its preliminary results for the year to 29 January
2005 on the 23 March 2005.

Great thread fundy,just my field.

Mtn is holding its own steve,must be a good sign with all this speculation about,,bit of a rogue finger in the early part of the morning.

Dave
retail stocks seem quite muted generally - very little ripple effect from the WLW announcement - lets see what Next have to say tomorrow

I dont think it will be to bullish myself,could be wrong!!

I predict a new high for NEXT tomorrow, 17.40

Next - the share that defies the laws of gravity - hard to see
what could bring this one down, personally I think it's over-rated
but it is fashionable and popular and somehow goes up when many
others dive down - but how long for?

Thats is macca put a spell on it,,,,,,,,,,its doomed now .

Well when i was in liverpool on the 27th of december at 7.00am there was next bags everywhere,,,,,,but it was half price clobber,but that is the normal at next.

Get ready for the great next sale unlucky macca time for a short .

Any other players ?

Dave

strikes me as mixed - appears they fared ok pre-xmas but got the stock levels and sale wrong - could bear badly for other retailers performance


NEXT PLC



TRADING STATEMENT


NEXT Retail sales for the period from 3 August to 24 December 2004 were up 12.1%
compared to the same period last year. For clarity, the comparative period last
year includes the same number of days as this year. Like-for-like sales in the
285 stores that were unaffected by new openings were up 2.9%. Total
like-for-like sales, including the 49 stores that were directly affected by new
openings, were up 0.5%.



NEXT Directory sales were up 13.4% in the period.



Taken together, sales for NEXT Retail and NEXT Directory were up 12.4%.



Clearance rates in our end of season Sale have been below our expectations, on
stock levels that were higher than originally planned. As a result we have
lowered our internal profit forecast by 5m. We currently expect Next Group
pre-tax profit for the full year to be in the range 415m to 425m, which is
broadly in line with market expectations.



We expect to issue our preliminary announcement of results for the 52 weeks to
29 January 2005 on Wednesday 23 March 2005.

Looking at around 16.00 if i can grab it.

Give it up as a bad job,never a fan of the sp,and never much scope for improvement .

matalan, peacocks, jessops should all do well imho... boots has an outside chance to suprise to the upside imho..

Even Ottakars results are disappointing.

Looks like we all just bought alcohol for xmas - Majestic Wine showing double digit like for like growth for the 9 week period

Fundy did you get the email,as i have changed my address book.

M&S profit-warning

No surprise here..........


MoneyAM
Marks & Spencer Group has warned on full-year profits after reporting disappointing Christmas sales.

"Although we still have three months of trading ahead of us until the end of the current financial year (to end-March 2005), given our third-quarter performance, and in particular the impact of higher markdown costs, we now expect that profit before tax and exceptional items for the current year will be in the range of 600m-625m," the retailer said in a trading update brought forward from its scheduled January 12th release.

For the six weeks to January 1st, M&S saw non-food sales on a like-for-like basis, which strips out the impact of new space, fall 8.55, while like-for-like food sales dipped 1.7%.

Total sales declined 3.7% and were down 5.6% on a like-for-like basis.

For the 13 weeks to January 1st, like-for-like non-food sales were down 8.5% and underlying food sales were down 2.9%.

Total sales were down 3.6% or down 6% on a like-for-like basis.

Clothing sales fell 4.4% over the 13-week period, while home sales slumped 25.2%.

M&S admitted that despite heightened levels of promotional activity over the Christmas period, including two '20% off' days, significantly more stock was carried over into the end of season sale compared with last year.

"While we have achieved good clearance of the Sale stock, the impact of the Sale has contributed to higher markdown costs for the quarter," it said.

Markdown costs for the second half, including an estimate for the impact of the Easter Sale, are now expected to show an increase of around 40m compared with last year.

The retailer said stock control is a key priority for the business. It noted that total forward commitments are now 25% less than for the equivalent period last year.

It added that while the food business traded disappointingly throughout October and November, trading showed some improvement over the Christmas period

JJB Sports saw total sales in its stores and health clubs in the 23 weeks to January 2nd 2005 drop by 1.6% year-on-year.

This included a like-for-like decrease in turnover of units that had been trading for over 52 weeks of 1.1%.

The drop in sales came entirely from a shortfall in the group's clothing products, JJB said.

It said Health Club sales are buoyant and it plans to open a further 18 new units in the current year.

The group currently expects pretax and amortisation profits for the 53 weeks ending January 30th 2005, to be in the range of 61m to 64m.