Retailer JD is "limbering up to report a jump in sales this week, as it bids to allay fears that demand for trendy trainers and yoga outfits is waning," according to Ashley Armstrong of the London TELEGRAPH. The company's shares have been "on a rollercoaster ride driven by concern its growth may come to an abrupt halt," as suffered by U.S. rival Foot Locker last month. Fears over JD Sports have also been "stoked by Nike's deal to directly sell products on Amazon" and signs that Sports Direct is "beginning to turn itself around following a calamitous couple of years." For the past two years, JD Sports' growth has been propelled by the growing demand for so-called "athleisure" clothing. However, analyst Quo Vadis Capital warned that "athleisure is over" following Foot Locker's first drop in like-for-like sales since '08. It added, "We predict several years of pain for the companies that compete in this arena." Barclays, however, said that the risk to JD Sports was "exaggerated." Despite the concerns about the "health of the wider athleisurewear market," analysts still expect JD Sports' half-year sales to top £1B ($1.32B), an increase of 30% (TELEGRAPH, 9/9).
