The rout in retail stocks

High street bellwether Next is just the latest big name to hit trouble. It has made mistakes, but is also grappling with sector-wide problems. Alice Gråhns reports.

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Next: too few blouses

It's been an awful week for the high street. Fashion retailer New Look announced that it is closing 60 stores and cutting rent payments to landlords. Flooring specialist Carpetright is likely to close 100 stores and also wants rent cuts. Children's clothing and toys retailer Mothercare is in talks with its banks to restructure its finances. Shares in Moss Bros plunged 33% after the men's retailer warned on 2019 profits. Finally, the boss of clothing and homeware chain Next, Simon Wolfson, described 2017 as "the most challenging year we have faced for 25 years".

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Most shorted sharesSectorShort interest on 27 Mar27 Feb
1GVC HoldingsGaming operators16.91610.189
2Melrose IndustriesIndustrials15.33914.841
3CarillionConstruction14.814.8
4Greencore GroupConvenience food13.58NEW ENTRY
5Pets at HomePet retailers11.6711.47
6The Restaurant GroupRestaurants11.61NEW ENTRY
7DebenhamsGeneral retailers11.4713.82
8Marks & SpencerGeneral retailers11.2410.18
9AAMotor insurance11.212.03
10J SainsburySupermarkets10.88NEW ENTRY
OUTProvident FinancialFinancial servicesRow 11 - Cell 3 13.38
Row 12 - Cell 0 AggrekoPower suppliesRow 12 - Cell 3 10.88
Row 13 - Cell 0 Wm MorrisonSupermarketsRow 13 - Cell 3 10.199

Alice grew up in Stockholm and studied at the University of the Arts London, where she gained a first-class BA in Journalism. She has written for several publications in Stockholm and London, and joined MoneyWeek in 2017.