Marks & Spencer has raised hopes that it has finally rediscovered a winning formula. Yesterday, it reported a rise in annual profit for the first time in four years and its intention to return excess cash to shareholders.

British retailer Marks & Spencer posted its best quarterly non-food sales performance in four years, yesterday, putting behind it the online distribution problems that ruined its Christmas and buying its chief executive more time to secure a recovery.

Marks & Spencer is to offer its army of small shareholders a discounted gift card instead of their dividend payment, the group said today.

A fresh decline in clothing sales piled more pressure on Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland today after a Christmas beset by online delivery problems.

Marks & Spencer’s embattled boss highlighted signs of progress today after the high street chain posted a surprise rise in half-year profits.

Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland blamed website teething problems today as the chain’s homeware and clothing division registered its 12th quarter in a row of declining sales.

Marks & Spencer’s boss Marc Bolland clocked up an unwelcome hat-trick today as the retailer reported a third consecutive year of falling profits under his stewardship.

Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland is expected to report a third year in a row of falling annual profits when the retailer publishes its results tomorrow.

Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland will come under more pressure tomorrow when the chain reveals another quarter of falling sales in its clothing division.

The team tasked with giving Marks & Spencer’s fortunes a makeover has unveiled the key fashion pieces they think will bring customers back to the ailing store.

Marks & Spencer reported sharply contrasting fortunes today as buoyant trading in its food halls helped offset more dismal sales figures in clothing.

Marks & Spencer Group plc reported first-half earnings that beat estimates and forecast an increase in profitability for the year as it offers fewer promotions.

Marks & Spencer’s worst trading performance for three years triggered a boardroom casualty today after its womenswear range failed to strike a chord with shoppers.

Calcium supplements, taken by millions of elderly people and post-menopausal women to prevent bone thinning, may double the risk of having a heart attack, a study has found.

Calcium supplements, taken by hundreds of thousands of elderly people and post-menopausal women to prevent bone thinning, may double the risk of having a heart attack, a study has found.

Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland slashed his sales targets for the high street retailer today as he unveiled its first fall in profits in three years.

Retail giant Marks & Spencer today reported a 1% fall in annual profits to £705.9m for the year to March 31, the first drop in three years.

Marks and Spencer’s underperforming Irish operations helped drag down the retail giant’s international division sales by 2% in the last quarter.

TWO British high street giants with significant Irish operations — Debenhams and Marks and Spencer — have reported positive sales for the festive period.

Marks & Spencer revealed a hit to profits today after it opted not to pass on the full extent of rising costs to cash-strapped shoppers.

CLIVE GOODMAN enjoyed a long career of royal scoops at the News of the World.

MARKS & SPENCER boss Marc Bolland continued to stamp his mark on the business yesterday as he unveiled plans to redesign stores following complaints from customers that outlets were “difficult to shop” in.

Marks & Spencer is expected to add to the gloom on the UK high street tomorrow when the retail bellwether posts its fourth quarter trading update.

British high street giant Marks & Spencer unveiled a partnership with the founder of household furnisher Habitat today as part of a move to modernise its Home department.

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce says the news is encouraging for Irishman David Meyler after his knee injury on Wednesday, but the manager is questioning his own selection of the player so soon after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.

THE new chief executive of Marks & Spencer has unveiled an “Only at M&S” campaign to bolster the company’s own brand as part of his long-awaited vision for the business.

Marks & Spencer is planning a return to Continental Europe and hopes to buy back the stores it controversially sold there nearly a decade ago, it was claimed today.

Marks & Spencer was today braced for a fresh clash with investors over boardroom pay as a succession of blue-chip firms prepare for stormy annual meetings on the issue.

Inflation and unemployment figures and the annual meetings of British Airways and Marks & Spencer should make up for a quiet results schedule on the London market this week.

IRELAND is not in great shape, according to the new chief executive of M&S.

Marks & Spencer notched up its third quarter of sales growth in a row today as the retail giant’s recovery gained momentum.

Marks & Spencer today revealed outgoing boss Stuart Rose landed a bumper £2.8m (€3.4m) bonus for returning the group to annual profits growth.

MARKS and Spencer has seen a solid improvement in trading at its Irish stores since the last budget, an indication, it said, that consumers want more confidence about where they stand financially.

Marks & Spencer's new boss Marc Bolland starts at the helm of the chain today amid great expectations over his plans for the high street giant.

MARKS & Spencer staff have been awarded an £80 million (€91.47m) bonus pot after bumper sales growth in the final quarter of the financial year.

Marks & Spencer bowed to pressure from investors today after chairman Stuart Rose agreed to a 25% pay cut for his final months with the high street giant.

The £15m (€17m) pay package for incoming Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland was today defended by the retailer’s current chief, Stuart Rose.

Marks & Spencer's new boss Marc Bolland will start in May on a near-£1m (1.14m) salary and a "golden hello" worth £3.9m (€4.46m) in shares, the retailer announced today.

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce insisted the FA Cup was still alive and kicking at the Stadium of Light after Fraizer Campbell’s brace broke the hearts of 8,000 travelling Barrow supporters.

Sunderland 3 Barrow 0

Morrisons offset disappointment over the imminent departure of its chief executive today by revealing sales “well ahead” of its competitors

The end of lengthy searches for top bosses at blue chips ITV and Marks & Spencer provided the focus in an otherwise quiet session for the FTSE 100 Index today.

British retail giant Marks & Spencer named Morrisons boss Marc Bolland as its new chief executive today.

Veteran supermarket boss Ken Morrison today outlined plans to stand down as chairman of the Morrisons chain in January 2008.