Britain's Tesco joins rivals with Christmas sales surge

Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, on Thursday followed rivals in reporting buoyant Christmas trading, as pandemic restrictions meant people splashed out on celebrations at home.

The group said UK like-for-like sales rose 8.1% in the six weeks to Jan. 9.

Tesco maintained its guidance for 2020-21 retail operating profit before exceptional items of "at least" the same level as 2019-20's, excluding the repayment of 535 million pounds ($729.3 million) of business rates relief. ($1 = 0.7336 pounds)

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