STOCK WATCH

■ PUB group Marston’s is optimistic about the year and hailed ‘encouraging’ Christmas bookings, despite posting widening losses.

The company, which runs 1,500 UK venues, remains positive despite the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

The stock fell on Tuesday amid a sell-off of hospitality stocks over fears of new restrictions. But the firm says it has a full stock of turkeys for its festive period bookings.

Underlying pre-tax losses widened to £100m for the year to October 2, from £22m.

Revenues for the year fell to £423.8m from £821m. Shares dipped 6.5pc, or 4.55p, to 65p.