The battle for retailing giant Alliance Boots looked over today after private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts floored its rival with an £11bn (€16.2bn) bid.

The likely private equity takeover of Alliance Boots will probably lead to “opportunistic financial rape”, a retail expert has said.

The London market stormed ahead to finish the week at its highest level for nearly six-and-a-half years, closing 46 points up at 6462.4 on Friday.

A shortened trading week will see Halfords and Mothercare publish updates, while publisher Bloomsbury will look to restore confidence after its profits warning in December.

Currys owner DSG International said today it had uncovered a “significant fraud” at its French online business Fotovista.

Marks & Spencer’s admission of interest in a potential bid for Sainsbury’s could press the retailer’s private equity suitors into tabling a firm offer for the company, a leading retail analyst said today.

UK furniture retailer ScS Upholstery warned today that tough trading conditions had been compounded by problems at a regional distribution operation.

Retailer Laura Ashley today said it had been awarded £2.9m (€4.3m) following a long-running legal dispute with cosmetics giant L’Oreal.

British chocolate retailer Thorntons today said it was on course to meet expectations after a range of new products hit the shops.

Bid talk surrounding fund-management firms and a strong performance from Vodafone helped the FTSE 100 Index move further from the 6,000 barrier today.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its recent improvement after seeing world markets remain steady following North Korea’s claims to have held nuclear testing.

Woolworths vowed to rescue sales in time for Christmas today after the struggling high street chain plunged deeper into the red.

B&Q owner Kingfisher today agreed to sell seven stores for £198m (€287.47m) in a bid to provide stability for the ailing DIY giant.

Music store and bookshop owner HMV became the latest retailer to count the cost of the World Cup as it reported plummeting sales today.

Book chain Ottakar’s today said it was looking to conclude takeover talks with entertainment retailer HMV “as quickly as possible” as the company reported a further sharp drop in sales.

Struggling fashion chain French Connection issued a third profits warning in 18 months today as it conceded its controversial lesbian kiss advertising campaign had failed to win over shoppers.

UK department store group House of Fraser shares sparked back to life today after a “dawn raid” for the company’s stock reignited speculation about a potential takeover.

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.

HMV was today frustrated in its efforts for a quick ruling on whether its £96.4m (€142.7m) offer for Ottakar’s damages competition in the market for books.

Retail group Carpetright today said sales remained depressed after deep discounts on its floor coverings failed to wake UK consumers from their slumber.

MARKS & SPENCER halted a two-year trading slump yesterday after new ranges and an overhaul helped the embattled retailer to a surprise pick-up in sales.

Marks & Spencer halted a two-year trading slump today after new ranges and an overhaul helped the embattled retailer to a surprise pick-up in sales.

Marks & Spencer said today that its grip on the UK clothing market was still weakening after sales declined for the seventh quarter in a row.

Troubled British supermarket group Morrisons appeared to have won important breathing space today as the City gave its backing to a major boardroom overhaul.

Online clothing firm ASOS today pinned its hopes on the buying power of youngsters to carry it through the gloom on the high street.

The founder of high street chain French Connection today defended the retailer against criticism that he holds too much power at the company.

Billionaire entrepreneur Philip Green was today reported to be finalising a deal to buy the loss-making UK retail business Etam.

A former Scottish soccer boss is to replace the chief executive of car accessories and cycle retailer Halfords, it was announced today.

Alarm bells were ringing in the retail sector today after fashion chain French Connection revealed a shock 17% sales fall over the past five weeks.

British high street retailer Woolworth’s today said it had rejected the chance to hold in-depth talks over a takeover worth up to £789m (€1.1bn).

Internet retailer ASOS today said Sienna Miller’s “Boho Chic” look had helped drive a 70% hike in Christmas sales.

The spotlight was back on retail tycoon Philip Green today after time restrictions on a fresh takeover approach for Marks & Spencer were lifted.

Troubled British furniture group Courts delivered a hammer blow to investors today by announcing it had been forced into talks over a life-saving financial overhaul.

BRITISH retailer Sainsbury’s showed further evidence it was suffering at the hands of price-cutting rivals yesterday as it warned that first-half profits would slump by nearly two-thirds.

Sainsbury’s showed further evidence it was suffering at the hands of price-cutting rivals today as it warned that first-half profits would slump by nearly two-thirds.

Two senior directors at British group MFI today paid the price for a profits slump and supply chain problems that left the retailer struggling to deliver orders.

Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Rose was today facing up to the task of delivering a trading revival after fending off a proposed £9.1bn (€13.6bn) takeover bid.

Marks & Spencer today showed no sign of giving in to investor pressure to open its books up to retail tycoon Philip Green.

Marks & Spencer unveiled a masterplan today for defeating a potential £9.1bn (€13.65bn) offer from tycoon Philip Green – with a pledge to return to its retail roots.

British supermarket group Morrisons today warned annual profits would be substantially below expectations as trading flagged at unconverted Safeway stores.

The prospect of a drawn-out battle for ownership of Marks & Spencer grew today after the retailer came out fighting against Bhs owner Philip Green.

Members of the management team at high street department store Debenhams were today thought to be scrutinising a long-awaited formal £1.54bn (€2.17) takeover offer.

The boss of the UK’s biggest sportswear retailer JJB Sports has been found hanged just days before crucial results from the group, it emerged today.