Investing

CompaniesNext raises guidance after cheerful ChristmasNext (NXT) has increased its profit guidance after a strong Christmas period, giving a welcome boost to the retail industry. Full price sales were up 4.8 per cent in the nine weeks to 30 December, despite management predicting a 2 per cent fall. As a result, Next has increased its full-year profit before tax forecast by £20mn to £860mn, which is 4.5 per cent higher than last year.In-person sales drove growth, and management said it had underestimated the negative effect Covid-19 had had on shopping last...