Game Group emerged as one of the few high street success stories on Thursday after the games retailer reported a double-digit like-for-like sales increase and said its interim profits would beat analysts’ expectations.

But shares were hit in morning trade and fell by nearly 12 per cent to 232½p by lunch time, despite a strong performance which was boosted by the launch of Nintendo’s Wii Fit and Grand Theft Auto IV. Shares later recovered to fall 5 per cent by early afternoon to 247¾p.