Electrical retailer Dixons reassured investors it remained on course to hit targets for the current financial year today.

The group said it was "confident" of meeting expectations in the City as it began a series of analyst briefings ahead of its results.

Dixons, based in Hemel Hempstead, suffered a disappointing Christmas after weaker sales of mobile phones and personal computers.

But analysts forecast it should report underlying profits of £292 million for the year to April 27, up from £278 million last year.

Turnover across the business, which also includes The Link and PC World, is expected to jump by £200 million to around £4.8 billion.

Dixons said: "Management remains confident that it will deliver results in line with consensus market expectations."

Shares in the group were up 2p at 236p after the update, recovering some of the losses caused this week by fears of a slowdown in the consumer boom.