FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Retail / 9 October 2026
Retail: sector news on Friday 9 October 2026
Average tone +4.6 (positive) across 7 companies with relevant coverage, from 102 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marks & Spencer | +4.0 | 37 | Coverage leaned positive, led by the 11,000-strong Christmas hiring drive, new product launches and a Barclays Buy rating. |
| Tesco | +9.2 | 33 | Coverage was dominated by Tesco's half-year results, with earnings up 6.5%, a raised profit forecast and a larger share buyback, and its shares rallied. |
| Sainsbury's | +5.2 | 22 | Coverage leaned positive, led by Argos expanding its stores and launching its marketplace, plus a new AI feature in the Sainsbury's app and a Deutsche Bank buy rating. |
| Burberry Group | −3.3 | 6 | Coverage was mixed, led by the replacement of the chief executive as annual profits slumped. |
| Kingfisher | +3.3 | 2 | Coverage centred on a 3.80p dividend and Deutsche Bank raising its price target for Kingfisher. |
| JD Sports | +7.5 | 1 | The only relevant coverage was a report that JD Sports' loyalty scheme has grown to more than 500,000 members. |
| Next | +6.3 | 1 | Coverage was a single piece asking whether Next is still rewarding shareholders after a strong year in fashion retail. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +10.0 FIVE AT FIVE: Tesco bags a bumper half, markets dodge the oil spike and VodafoneThree sets its sights higher
Bumper half-year results. - +10.0 Tesco raises profit forecast and predicts Christmas spending boom
Raised profit forecast and expects strong Christmas. - +10.0 British Stocks Fall on Bond Market Selloff, Oil Price Surge; Tesco Soars
Shares soared on results. - +10.0 Tesco raises profit forecast and lifts share buyback to £950m
Profit forecast raised and buyback lifted to £950m. - +10.0 Tesco boss shrugs off speculation of Sainsbury's-Morrisons merger as firm raises profit forecast
Boss confident and profit forecast raised. - −10.0 Burberry Replaces Chief Executive As Annual Profits Slump
Chief executive replaced as annual profits slump. - +10.0 Tesco stars but oil price gains keep stocks lower
Tesco stood out positively on results. - +10.0 FTSE 100 movers: Tesco, Imperial Brands rally on results; Standard Life slumps
Shares rallied on results. - +10.0 Tesco PLC (TSCDF) (H1 2027) Earnings Call Highlights: Profit Jumps 6. ...
Earnings call highlights profit jump. - +10.0 Tesco Lifts Lower End of Profit Outlook as First-Half Earnings Climb 6.5%
Half-year earnings up 6.5% and profit outlook lifted. - −9.2 Recall of Several Ready-to-Eat Marks and Spencer Products Due to the Possible Presence of Salmonella in Pistachios
Salmonella recall of several M&S products. - +9.2 Argos reveals ‘biggest EVER expansion’ coming to all stores across UK
Argos announces biggest ever expansion across stores.