Next upgrades guidance as conditions improve

The fashion retailer has beaten expectations and raised its forecast for the second half, in a move that points to an improvement in conditions on the UK high street

• In depth: UK retail results
• Next forecasts continuation of grey skies

Lex: Marks and Spencer

The decision to offer a selection of branded foods alongside traditional own-label staples is latest twist in UK retailers’ battle for high street customers

Sales growth buoys Dunelm

Shares in the furnishings and homeware company jump more than 6% after the group confirmed it would beat consensus forecasts for full-year revenue

J&J to axe 7% of jobs in global restructure

Johnson & Johnson will cut up to 7% of its 117,000 employees by 2011 as it reduces costs in an effort to weather the global downturn and increase spending on new products.

Stanley seals $4.5bn Black & Decker tie-up

The all-stock transaction will unite two US household brands and allow the toolmakers to save about $350m in annual costs

Shops look forward to a monster spell

British retailers are gearing up for what is expected to be their best Halloween ever, as families on celebrate with pumpkins, party accessories and dressing-up outfits

Sony and Panasonic boost forecasts

Japan’s two largest consumer electronics companies, Sony and Panasonic, both increased their full-year profit forecasts as cost cuts improved their operating results

Samsung trebles third-quarter profits

Asia’s biggest maker of microchips, flat-screen televisions and mobile phones reports record quarterly earnings, highlighting the technology industry’s rapid recovery