A further round of sell recommendations from brokers cranked up the pressure on shares in the housebuilding and retail sectors today.

H Samuel and Ernest Jones jeweller Signet revealed a slump in first quarter earnings today after weak trading in America offset rising UK sales.

Takeover speculation and a quarter point cut in interest rates failed to lift the FTSE 100 Index out of the red today.

Mortgage lender Halifax Bank of Scotland led a depressed session for banking stocks and the wider London market today.

Marks & Spencer added to the retail blues in the UK this week after its Christmas sales disappointment, but it was not all doom and gloom in a mixed week for the sector.

The London market staged a late session turnaround today after positive US economic data helped offset hefty falls among UK retailers.

A host of the biggest names on the British high street were under pressure today as concerns over trading in the crucial Christmas season mounted.

Reassuring news from banking giant Barclays and stronger-than-expected early trading on Wall Street helped limit falls on the London market today.

H Samuel and Ernest Jones jeweller Signet added to the gloom over the high street today after warning full-year profits would fall short of hopes.

Jewellers H Samuel and Ernest Jones today signalled the continued revival of its UK brands as the group posted a second quarter sales rise of 6.6%.

Ernest Jones and H Samuel owner Signet today said the performance gap was widening between its UK and US divisions after trading remained weak in America.

Shares in H Samuel and Ernest Jones jeweller Signet were hit today after the company warned of weaker trading in the United States since February.

An upturn in sales at H Samuel gave owner Signet a boost today as the company insisted its UK business was not up for sale.

A strong performance from financial stocks boosted the London markets today, offsetting heavy losses from steel maker Corus.

London’s leading shares made gains today as a positive end to trading on Wall Street last night and lower oil prices contributed to an upbeat mood.

Shares in H Samuel owner Signet slumped today as the market reacted to the decision of two private equity firms to opt against a joint bid for the jeweller.

Entrepreneur Gerald Ratner’s interest in buying the Ernest Jones and H Samuel jewellery businesses was under pressure from a familiar quarter today.

The London market finished just below its opening mark today following a mixed session for leading shares as fears of an imminent interest rate rise across the Atlantic loomed again.

The Bank of England’s first move on interest rates in a year sent leading shares into freefall today as the FTSE 100 Index slumped by almost 2%.

A flurry of takeover speculation failed to keep the London market out of the red as investors continued to fret over higher interest rates today.

Jewellery retailer Signet – owner of H Samuel and Ernest Jones – confirmed today it is in merger talks with US rival Zale Corporation.

H Samuel jeweller Signet made another loss in the UK today after promotional activity required to offset tough trading conditions affected margins.

Retailers in the UK ran for cover today after a gloomy Christmas update from Waterstone’s owner HMV cast a shadow over a clutch of mid-cap firms.

Retailers in the UK kept up their cautious stance today despite better-than-expected sales figures from the likes of Boots, Sainsbury’s and Argos.

Jeweller Signet saw third-quarter profits fall sharply today as the slowdown in spending on the UK high street hit sales at its Ernest Jones and H Samuel stores.

Jewellery retailer Signet revealed today that its Ernest Jones and H Samuel chains had sunk deeper into the red.

H Samuel and Ernest Jones jeweller Signet today provided more evidence of belt-tightening by its consumers after seeing recent sales go into reverse.

British high street retailer WH Smith was today reported to be on the brink of unveiling Severn Trent boss Robert Walker as its new chairman.

Jewellery group Signet lost some of the sparkle from “excellent” first half results today after reporting that trading conditions cooled in August.

British jewellery retailer Signet continued its recent glittering performance today after first half like-for-like sales rose 7.4% to £671.6m (€1bn).

The London market slipped into reverse gear today as speculation mounted that interest rates will be hiked tomorrow.

British jewellery chain Goldsmiths was today reported to be in the sights of the Icelandic retail group Baugur.

Shares in jewellery retailer Signet reached their highest point for a year today after sales in its key US market showed signs of improvement.

RETAIL stocks grabbed the headlines again yesterday as the FTSE 100 Index managed to end a week-long losing streak.

The FTSE 100 index has fallen 60 points to 5071.4 by lunchtime.

The London market hovered around its opening level today as dealers put their feet up ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Signet is set to unveil record sales next week, despite the US economic slowdown.

London shares were subdued today, as the Bank of England's interest rate cut failed to inspire and a nine per cent drop from BT weighed on the market.