Supermarket group Casino reported a 1.9 per cent fall in second-quarter sales, broadly in line with market expectations. Sales were weighed down by lower petrol prices and declines at its French hypermarkets.

Second-quarter sales fell to €6.82bn (£5.87bn). The retailer said that underlying sales excluding petrol and calendar effects rose 1.1 per cent.

A 4.8 per cent growth in its international business offset a 1.1 percent drop in its domestic market, and hypermarket sales fell at a slower rate.

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