Retailer Marks & Spencer this morning reported a 7 per cent rise in first-half profit that boosted its shares.
The company said sales at its stores in Ireland also grew in the six months to September. Chief executive Mr Roger Holmes said: "We've come a long way over the last two years but we still see many more opportunities to drive top line growth."
Britain's biggest clothing retailer, which has come back from a deep sales slump, had pre-tax profit before exceptionals of £311.5 million sterling in the six months to September 27th. Analysts had predicted a £305 million to £315 million profit.
Marks & Spencer shares gained 1.1 per cent to 290-1/2p. The firm's joint house broker Cazenove edged up its full year earnings forecasts for the firm after the figures, raising the full year pre-tax profit forecast to £775 million from £770 million previously.
"The stores in the Republic of Ireland have performed ahead of last year and the performance of the first Simply Food store in Ireland has been encouraging," the company said in a statement this morning.