M&S shareholders face another dose of gloom

MARKS & SPENCER shareholders are bracing themselves for further gloom on trading as fears grow of a wider slowdown in high street spending.

Chief executive Stuart Rose has already warned half-year profits will be down tomorrow, but he is likely to add another dour assessment on current sales.

His comments will reflect difficult trading conditions as figures also due this week from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG are expected to show near-stagnant sales growth during October.