M&S hails better-than-expected 75% rise in first-half profit

Marks & Spencer has posted a much better than expected 75% rise in first-half profit to £360m in the six months to September 30, with pre-tax profits increasing by 56.2% to £325.6m and sales up 10.8% to £6.2bn.
Sales of food led the advance, up almost 15%, as M&S seeks to pull in customers for their full weekly shop with affordable prices.
Clothing and home also grew 5.7% despite unseasonably warm weather in September.
The business achieved the leading position in