Marks & Spencer raises clothing, homewares profit margin forecast

London

BRITISH retailer Marks & Spencer on Wednesday raised its annual forecast for margins in clothing and homewares even though quarterly sales fell in this troubled division.

The 131-year-old group also beat forecasts for first-half profit and increased its dividend, sending its shares up 3.7 per cent.

The performance is likely to give a boost to chief executive Marc Bolland, who…