Next property director sells

Group property director Andrew Varley has reduced his shareholding in fashion retailer Next.

Varley raised nearly £183,000 from the sale of 8,879 shares. That leaves him with 61,008 shares in Next.

Varley is 58 years old and he joined Next in 1985 - three years after the first Next shop was opened.

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The share disposal was announced just after Next said that it would report its full year figures on 25 March. On 5 January, Next upgraded its forecast full year profit range for the year to January 2010 to £490m-£500m. That includes £7m of additional profit from it being a 53 week period. Earnings per share are expected to be at least 15% higher.

Pre-Christmas trading was better than expected. The consumer environment was more stable than expected and Next believes that its improved product range also helped.

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Dairy Farm International (Singapore) (DFI) Director name: Mr Ronald J FlotoAmount purchased: 24,300 @ $5.99 Value: $145,521

Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) Director name: Mr Michael Andrew CoupeAmount purchased: 9,327 @ 329.11p Value: £30,696

Baobab Resources (BAO) Director name: Mr Jeremy DowlerAmount purchased: 400,000 @ 7.12p Value: £28,480

Baobab Resources (BAO) Director name: Mr Jeremy DowlerAmount purchased: 150,000 @ 7.25p Value: £10,875

Top Director Sells

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr Andrew John VarleyAmount sold: 6,000 @ 2,059.00p Value: £123,540

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr Andrew John VarleyAmount sold: 2,879 @ 2,057.59p Value: £59,238