Tip of the month

My tip this month is Marks & Spencer. There are four reasons why the High Street retailer's share price should hit 450p inside the next 12 months. M&S has fared well despite the recession. Its latest interim pre-tax profit rose from £297.8m to £298.3m. City analysts had been expecting a figure four per cent less. Over the same period, the store group's sales rose by nearly three per cent to £4.3bn.

One takeover attempt has already been made on M&S, and rebuffed. But the Qatar Investment Authority could launch another if it fails in its bid for Sainsbury a second time round. Or an approach could come from Kraft if it doesn't succeed in buying Cadbury. M&S is also trying to take market share from Waitrose on the food front by cutting prices heavily.

Buy M&S shares at the best price and with a 20 per cent trailing stop/loss trigger to protect you against major falls in the market.

Stockmarket and alternative investments can fall as well as rise in value. Readers should consult their own professional advisers.