FGC BOLSA - FGC FINANCIAL MARKETS INFO

    City briefing   LOUISE ARMITSTEAD CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT Follow Louise on Twitter TOP OF THE AGENDA Marks & Spencer  has wrong-footed the market by announcing a rise in clothing sales for the three months to the end of March. Britain's biggest high street retailer has delivered like-for-like growth in clothing of 0.6pc. However M&S doesn't normally strip out clothing sales from its GM division where like-for-likes have dropped for the eleventh consecutive quarter.  Marc Bolland says womenswear is "showing clear signs of improvement" and performed ahead of the rest of clothing. But analysts and investors will want to know how much has been powered by savage discounting. Total food sales are up 2.5pc and 0.1pc on a like for like basis. Analysts are concerned that even his strong division may not be immune to the price war among supermarkets.  So is the  Co-Operative Group  "ungovernable" after all?

      City briefing   LOUISE ARMITSTEAD CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT Follow Louise on Twitter TOP OF THE AGENDA Good morning, it's  Budget Day .  George Osborne  will deliver his fifth annual Budget - but his first with strong economic growth figures behind him. Just a year ago, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) slashed the 2013 growth figures in half; today the revisions will be upwards. The Chancellor wants to boost exports, housebuilding and investment while cutting taxes. Even so, don't expect any big give-aways: he still has a vast debt pile to manage. Business is hoping for an exemption in employers National Insurance Contributions for the under-25s; the freezing of carbon taxes; and business rate reform. Help to Buy will be extended, UKTI will get more cash to support exporters and fuel duty is likely to be frozen too. But there's also talk of a 'big surprise'. For a  full Budget check list, see here .  Osborne wi