The fashion chain’s shares were the biggest riser in the FTSE 100, climbing nearly 10% up to £43.83. Next said stores on high streets where the sun had been shining had performed 5% to 10% better than those in parts of the country where the weather had not been as pleasant. Commenting on the figures, Next chief executive Simon Wolfson added “during June and July we saw a marked improvement in retail [shop] and Directory sales. In the parts of the country like Scotland and northern England where it wasn’t quite as warm, we didn’t see anything like the same improvement.”