2 November 2011 – interim management statement

Shares in Next reached an all-time high this morning following the positive trading statement which covers the third quarter to 29 October.  Sales for the period were up by 3.3% with a fall in high street sales being more than offset by higher sales from Next Directory.  Given the poor results being reported elsewhere in the sector these were clearly very encouraging.  The group has also re-iterated guidance for the full year.  Despite the fact that according to Deutsche Bank the shares are the second best performing stock in the FTSE 100 this year there could be further to go and the stock remains ATTRACTIVE.