You can’t keep a world-conquering pop star down.

Shares in Next rose almost 5% yesterday after the fashion retailer reported surprisingly robust Christmas retail figures which cheered investors who were fearing the worst after months of gloom in the UK sector.

Retail giant Next has posted falling profits for the second consecutive year, and warned that 2018 will remain challenging as the sector faces intense pressure.

It comes after sales across Next's high street stores fell by 8.3% over the first half and amid a sharp slowdown in retail sales across the country.

Clothing retailer Next returned to sales growth in its latest quarter, helped by warm weather in June and July and a surge in online sales, sending its shares sharply higher.

High street giant Next has revealed its first fall in annual profits for eight years as it was hit by sliding sales and warned that 2017 is set to be "another tough year".

Shares in fashion retailer Next plummeted yesterday as it cut its profit forecast after a poor Christmas and warned of a further decline.

Next said profits could plunge by as much as 14% in the next financial year.

Clothing retailer Next reported a pick up in sales in its second quarter and said it had not seen a big impact on demand so far from Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Next has lowered its sales forecast for the year, sending its shares plunging the most since the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, as slowing growth in consumers’ incomes threatens to hit spending at the UK clothing retailer.

When it comes to kids’ clobber, denim holds sovereign sway. 

High street chain Next blamed unseasonably warm weather for a “disappointing” performance in the run-up to Christmas as it posted a fall in store sales and sharp slowdown in its Directory business.

Clothing retailer Next yesterday nudged up its annual sales and profit forecasts after beating its own guidance for first-half sales growth, boosted by warm weather in June and July.