RETAIL/CONSUMER

Shares in Reckitt Benckiser were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite posting a rise in net income of 23 per cent in the second quarter of the year to £380 million.

Shares in Fuller, Smith & Turner were up in afternoon trading after the pub-owner reported a rise in sales in the quarter ended 17 July.

Sports Direct, the UK's number one sports retailer, has boasted of 49 pct increase in profits after a strong year's earnings boosted profits before tax.

Shares in Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company said it was cautious about the near future, after delivering a statement for the second quarter ended 10 July.

Shares in Kingfisher were up on the FTSE 100 and are a recommended buy ahead of tomorrow's statement on Q2 trading from the company.

Enterprise Inns have risen 2.5 pence after the World Cup boosted sales at the tenanted pub company.

Shares in betting firm William Hill were down on the FTSE 250 and are a recommended buy after a successful World Cup mixed with a "disappointing" performance from the group's core horse race betting business.

Thousands of tourists have been left stranded abroad after holiday operator Goldtrail Travel Limited collapsed yesterday evening.

Shares in fashion retailer Burberry were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company said it would be buying out 50 franchise stores in China for £70 million.

Mothercare, the owner of the stores of the same name, and also the Early Learning Centre is falling on the FTSE 250 after a sales sliding a further 4.1 pct in the UK.

Marc Bolland, charmed investors of his company at the shareholder annual general meeting held in the Royal Festival Hall today.

Follow our live coverage of Marc Bolland's first AGM as Marks & Spencer CEO, with Martha Lane Fox, Stuart Rose and the full board in attendance.

Follow our live coverage of Marc Bolland's first AGM as Marks & Spencer CEO, with Martha Lane Fox, Stuart Rose and the full board in attendance.

Shares in chocolatier Thorntons were down today after the company reporting worsening sales drops at its stores in the full year to 26 June.

Shares in Burberry Group were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, despite the company reporting a rise in revenue of 24 per cent to £282 million in the first quarter ended 30 June.

Shares in Domino's Pizza were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the company reported a rise in pre-tax profit of 28.6 per cent in the half year ended 27 June.

ITV, Associated British Foods and Marks & Spencers are amongst the FTSE companies in today's Broker Tips. The three companies have all been covered in recent notes by securities firm Nomura and British bank, RBS.

J Sainsbury has taken the concept of opening new branches to a whole new level after unveiling a "tree top Sainsbury's store" to coincide with the launch of its corporate responsibility report in which the supermarket sets out its goals to help the environment over the next five years.

JJB Sports today said that its sales have been in line with expectations since its last market update on 27 May, despite a poor and uninspiring performance from the England team at the World Cup in South Africa, which could have damaged the sale of England shirts.

Associated British Foods has reported a rise in group revenue of 14 per cent in the 40 week period ended 19 June 2010. In the 16 weeks to 19 June group sales were up 13 per cent.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were down on the FTSE 100 after the group said it was "cautious" of the future following the recent announcement of a rise in VAT, despite reporting a rise in group sales of 4.4 per cent in the first quarter ended 3 July.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were up on the FTSE 100 and are a recommended hold ahead of tomorrow's first quarter trading statement.

Kesa Electricals has beaten its profits targets as it reported full year profits of £81.9m - above the £75 million it had predicted for for the 12 months ended 12 April.

Wal-mart's Asda supermarket chain, warned of continuing decline in consumer confidence today after announcing its like-for-like sales remained in retreat at 0.3 pct on last year.

Warm weather and a World Cup pushed up online sales 22 pct in May say Interactive Media Retail Group.

Game Group shares fall on the FTSE 250 by 6.74 pct after the group reported yet another decline in sales following the nineteen weeks of February 1 to 12 June.

J Sainsbury PLC sales growth has slowed in Q1 in their Interim Management Statement released today.

Alexon Group, a ladies clothing retailer listed on the London Stock Exchange, has announced like-for-like sales down 5.4 pct for the 19 weeks ended 12 June 2010 due to volcano ash disrupting supply chains.

Tesco first quarter interim management statement today shows that sales for the thirteen weeks to 30 May were in line with expectations for this year.