MKS · Retail · one day
Marks & Spencer (MKS): news on Friday 23 October 2026
News from the 24 hours to Friday morning, 23 October 2026.
Tone of the day
What the score means. Each score rates how good or bad the news was for the company, from −10 (clearly bad) to +10 (clearly good). 0 is neutral, and anything beyond ±6 is strong and rare. It rates the coverage, not the share price.
Why it scored this way
Coverage was mostly positive, with strong product buzz, store expansion and approvals, seasonal hiring and a Citi price target increase. A Waitrose store opening in competition with M&S was the main negative.
What drove it
- Citi target raise
- store expansion
- product buzz
Around this day
| Day | Tone | Headlines |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct | +3.7 | 35 |
| Sun 18 Oct | +4.5 | 19 |
| Mon 19 Oct | +3.3 | 14 |
| Tue 20 Oct | +3.7 | 27 |
| Wed 21 Oct | +4.8 | 22 |
| Thu 22 Oct | +5.5 | 32 |
| Fri 23 Oct | +4.0 | 30 |
| Sat 24 Oct | +5.0 | 17 |
| Sun 25 Oct | +5.5 | 11 |
| Mon 26 Oct | +5.0 | 18 |
14 stories · 30 headlines · strongest first
Retail on 23 OctoberFTSE 100 that day| Tone | Headline and why it scored that way | |
|---|---|---|
| M&S fashion and homeware product features +3.714 headlines today · 89 in all, since 14 October · Lifestyle outlets feature M&S clothing, shoes, bedding and home items. | ||
| +4.2 | Missed out on M&S X Kelly Hoppen's sold-out bolster? Zara's animal print cushion offers a similar lookSold-out M&S collaboration product shows demand. | |
| +4.2 | M&S has Kate Middleton's entire Victoria Beckham outfit she just stepped out wearing for under £250 - including a very similar suit and merino wool jumper that's on saleM&S offers affordable lookalike of royal outfit. | |
| +3.3 | The 'cape collar jacket' is autumn's most polished coat trend – M&S' £75 bitter chocolate style is so elegantM&S coat praised as elegant. | |
| +3.3 | Cat Deeley stuns in high-neck lace top from M&S ideal for Christmas party seasonCelebrity wearing M&S top, positive exposure. | |
| +3.3 | M&S best-selling £36 ankle wellies perfect for 'wet winter walks'Best-selling boots praised. | |
| +3.3 | Marks and Spencer's fleece lined leggings are so warm 'I won't wear anything else'Positive customer reaction to M&S product. | |
| +3.3 | M&S's £30 Christmas patchwork cushion is the must-have buy this season – plus 8 options to shop nowProduct praised as must-have Christmas buy. | |
| +3.3 | Shearling jackets are this season’s cosiest layer – and M&S’s suede style is soft, stretchy and so comfyProduct praised as comfy and stylish. | |
| +3.3 | M&S's £20 reversible borg fleece bedding is the cosy bedroom update you need this winterHome product promoted positively. | |
| +3.3 | Claudia Winkleman's exact bomber jacket is £545 but we've found a £50 M&S versionM&S cheaper alternative highlighted favourably. | |
| +3.3 | 'Effortless femininity' - M&S fans set to love brown dress for autumn eventsFans expected to love M&S dress. | |
| +1.7 | 'Good quality' and 'comfortable' M&S trainers drop to under £10 in autumn shadeWell-reviewed trainers, but heavily discounted. | |
| +1.7 | M&S' 'most attractive' festive jumper in traditional Scottish pattern slashed by 20%Product described attractive but discounted. | |
| +1.7 | 'Comfortable' M&S £26 trainers drop to under £10Comfortable trainers praised but marked down. | |
| Viral M&S coat sells out +5.02 headlines today · Outlets cover a sold-out M&S coat and alternatives. | ||
| +5.0 | Missed out on this viral M&S coat? Don't panic, here's the best alternativesViral coat shows strong demand. | |
| +5.0 | This sold-out M&S coat is the hottest jacket of autumn - and it's selling for double the price on Vinted (plus 7 alternatives to shop)Sold-out coat resells at double price, strong demand. | |
| M&S Christmas recruitment +4.62 headlines today · 11 in all, since 14 October · Local outlets report M&S recruiting seasonal staff across Cheshire stores and elsewhere. | ||
| +3.3 | M&S to recruit more than 300 jobs across Cheshire stores this ChristmasChristmas recruitment across stores. | |
| +3.3 | Marks & Spencer to recruit 270 seasonal staff membersSeasonal hiring suggests trading activity. | |
| Aldi and Lidl to face same rules as larger supermarkets −0.42 headlines today · Reports say a rule applying to major supermarkets including M&S will be extended to Aldi and Lidl. | ||
| −0.8 | Aldi and Lidl to face to same rules as rival supermarkets in crackdownRules extended to Aldi and Lidl; M&S among rival named. | |
| 0.0 | Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco rule being extended to Aldi and LidlRule extension to rivals, M&S named in list. | |
| Citi raises Marks & Spencer target to 480p +8.31 headline today · Citi raised its target for M&S stock to 480p. | ||
| +8.3 | Citi raises target for Marks & Spencer stock to GBp 480Citi raises price target on M&S. | |
| M&S wins approval for new retail park superstore +6.21 headline today · 3 in all · M&S won approval to open a new superstore at a retail park. | ||
| +6.7 | M&S wins approval to open new superstore at retail parkApproval to open new superstore, expansion. | |
| M&S worker becomes TikTok star +6.41 headline today · 3 in all, since 21 October · The Daily Mail profiles an M&S food store boss with millions of social media views. | ||
| +5.8 | Kathryn Turner is not just any social media star, she's an M&S social media star: Food store boss racks up millions of hits on TikTok and Instagram and counts Stormzy and Gemma Collins among her legion of fansStaff member's social media fame gives positive brand exposure. | |
| M&S 'picky bits' marketing +5.01 headline today · The Times comments on M&S 'picky bits' as a marketing success. | ||
| +5.0 | M&S ‘picky bits’ is brain rot — but also a marketing masterclassMarketing described as masterclass. | |
| Waitrose opens first supermarket in eight years −5.01 headline today · The Telegraph reports Waitrose opened its first supermarket in eight years, challenging M&S. | ||
| −5.0 | Waitrose opens first supermarket in eight years in challenge to M&SWaitrose expansion challenges M&S competitively. | |
| M&S launches Northampton foodhall +5.11 headline today · 7 in all, since 21 October · M&S's Northampton store is reported to create more than 70 jobs. | ||
| +5.0 | M&S creates more than 70 jobs with Northampton storeNew Northampton store creating jobs. | |
| M&S food and Christmas product launches +4.31 headline today · 17 in all, since 18 October · The Daily Mail covers an M&S custard cream spread. | ||
| +5.0 | Which sweet spread should you really add to your toast - and the ultra-sugary versions to avoid...as M&S causes a frenzy with custard cream creationCustard cream product causing a frenzy. | |
| M&S and Jigsaw partnership tops €250k for youth mental health +4.21 headline today · M&S says its Jigsaw partnership has raised over €250k. | ||
| +4.2 | M&S and Jigsaw Partnership Tops €250k in Support of Young People's Mental HealthCharity partnership raises over €250k, good reputation. | |
| Asda's Merry Munch Mix compared with M&S −1.71 headline today · Good Housekeeping says Asda's snack mix is cheaper than M&S's. | ||
| −1.7 | Move over, M&S – ASDA's £3.35 Merry Munch Mix is more than 50% cheaper and packed with chocolate, fudge and pretzelsAsda product pitched as cheaper rival to M&S. | |
| Traffic impact of new M&S queried +0.81 headline today · More information is sought over the traffic impact of a new M&S. | ||
| +0.8 | More information sought over traffic impact of new M&SNew M&S store planning scrutiny, minor, expansion continuing. | |
Each headline has its own score; the links go to the publisher.
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