Supermarket sweep? Spotting the retail sector winners and losers

Stock selection will be particularly important in the UK retail sector in future, according to Aviva Investors' Chris Murphy, after a number of high street stores started the year with disappointing results.

Murphy, who manages the group’s £948m UK Equity Income fund, expects to see “big winners and losers” in the retail space this year, and this is reflected in his stock selection. M&S is one of the stocks Murphy (pictured) does not hold in the portfolio, forecasting further negative news after the firm revealed weaker than expected general merchandise sales over the Christmas period. “M&S is a loser in the sector,” he said. “Middle group retailers are in big trouble, because people tend to either buy cheap or luxury goods, and much of the shopping is done online.” The only allocation...