, Columnists
Leave Argos on the Shelf, Sainsbury
Even if it gets the finances to work, the strategic logic for a deal isn't there
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J Sainsbury should leave Home Retail Group on the shelf.
Britain's second-biggest supermarket by market share had a decent Christmas with like-for-like sales in its fiscal third quarter down 0.4 per cent. That's slightly better than expected, but it's not shooting the lights out. Sainsbury usually outperforms at Christmas anyway as customers traditionally trade up from more down-market competitors.