Updates from Tesco, Gatwick Airport and Dunelm Group

A 36-point drop for the Big Board yesterday, taking the FTSE 100 to 6,807.8. UnitedUtilities took the most pressure, down 3.6% to 955p while BHPBilliton lost 2.7% to 1336p. SageGroup shares however part-recovered from Wednesday's shock dive, climbing 3.9% to 536p. Better news for Barratt investors with shares climbing almost 3% to 635p.

The Dow Jones in the US was dragged 75 points lower to 17,890.3 with Caterpillar slumping 1.6% however shares in UnitedhealthGroup surged 2.6%.

The big news this morning is Tesco - sales are still falling but the slump has been contained to 1.3% for the last three months. Like-for-like sales are up 1.4%. Still difficult numbers for new boss Dave Lewis, who comes face-to-face with shareholders today.

International Tesco like-for-like sales are up overall though like-for-like sales in Tesco's two largest markets, Korea and Thailand, dipped 3% and 2%. Currency movements "significantly" hit sales in Republic of Ireland, Central Europe and Turkey, offset by more favourable currency movements in Asia.

In the last year Tesco boss Dave Lewis has closed almost 50 stores. However today's AGM will still likely see many investors questioning Tesco's strategy and direction plus a new threat from Morrisons, which recently upped sales for the first time since 2013.

We turn to new numbers from Gatwick Airport. The West Sussex airport claims record passenger numbers - a 7.8% rise to £38.7m for the year - in its history helping revenues hit £638m.

Pre-tax profits however were down to £85.8m from £83.8m though underlying earnings are up more than 13% to £293.7m. In total more than 2.8m passengers used Gatwick in contrast to a year ago.

The Airports Commission meanwhile is set to recommend its decision - a report due next week, led by Sir Howard Davies - on a possible future second runway at Gatwick, or a third for Heathrow. Gatwick claims its new passenger numbers rise supports its case.

Lastly, homewares retailer Dunelm Group claim a raft of personnel changes at the top. John Browett joins the board on 1st July as Chief Executive Designate becoming Chief Executive Officer on 1 January.

Browett is ex-Tesco and also a non-exec at easyJet; in 2007 he was appointed CEO at Dixons Retail after being Senior Vice President at Apple Retail.

"Trading continues to be in line with the Board's expectations," claims Dunelm. A formal trading update is scheduled for 9 July.

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