The old saw that England is 'a nation of shopkeepers' looked apt last week, as a slew of retail earnings figures showed shoppers taking High Street sales to new levels in the fourth quarter.

Among the risers was Marks & Spencer, which reported a 2.3% annualised rise in fourth-quarter sales for its clothing and home divisions, its best Christmas boost since 2011. The success reflects in part a shift in business strategy, and augurs well for a company increasingly focused on its supermarket offering.

This week's bulletin also includes:

  • Retail sales for the fourth quarter showed UK consumers spending heartily over the festive period.
  • US stocks were jumpy following the president-elect's first press conference, as the Trump rally lost steam.
  • Trade tensions rose, as the US launched a WTO action against China, and Trump criticised Chinese policy.
  • Volkswagen agreed a $4.3 billion US fine for emissions cheating, but Fiat Chrysler now faces investigation.

View this week's Market Bulletin, which contains thoughts and opinions of St. James's Place and our range of investment managers on the key issues affecting investors.

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St James's Place Group plc published this content on 16 January 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 16 January 2017 13:35:06 UTC.

Original documenthttps://www1.sjp.co.uk/press-and-media/latest-news/2017/16-01-2017

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