Dixons Carphone, the European electrical goods and mobile phone retailer, reported a consensus-beating 8 per cent rise in first quarter underlying sales, led by a strong showing in its home market Britain.

The group, which trades as Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World in the UK and Ireland, and Elkjop and Elgiganten in Nordic countries, said UK like-for-like sales rose 10 per cent in the 13 week period ended August 1st.

Group sales growth of 8 per cent compared to a company-supplied consensus forecast of 4 per cent. In the Nordics, underlying sales rose 4 per cent, while they were flat in its southern European stores.

Dixons Carphone was formed in a merger last year.

Shares in the group were up 3 per cent in early trading on Thursday.

Reuters