The Bookseller reports that retail analyst Nick Bubb of Pali International expects an upturn for Waterstone's when the book chain's preliminary full-year results are revealed next week, despite a still "difficult" outlook for parent company HMV. "A year ago they had to admit that HMV UK was down 17% in like-for-like sales in May/June and that Waterstone's was down 6% like-for-like," he said. "So against that they should be able to report sales no worse than flat or, hopefully, some indication of a recovery."

Bubb's report comes as shares for HMV were up earlier this week with additional signs the stock could simply be moving ahead of its full-year results next Thursday.