LONDON (AP) — Shares in Britain's grocery companies lifted yesterday after Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, the country's fourth-largest player, said it expected its full year earnings to beat its previous forecasts.

Morrison shares jumped 9.5 percent to 277.25 pence ($4.57), while rivals J. Sainsbury PLC and Tesco PLC picked up three percent and two percent respectively.

In an unscheduled trading update, Morrison said that it had achieved sales growth well ahead of the market through the second quarter of the year, providing a "solid base for the remainder of the year".

"The resultant volume growth is helping to deliver operating leverage through supply chain benefits," said the company, which is positioned at the cheaper end of Britain's grocery offerings.