Investec published a buy note on Asos ahead of its half-year results on November 16, despite evidence of challenges facing online retailers.

Investec analyst Natalia Marisova said that despite slowing growth of etail in September, highlighted by IMRG figures that noted the slowest ever growth of the sector, Asos still has strong growth potential.

“Historically, Asos has generated 50% of its profits in November and December. We therefore believe it is too early to suggest any read across for Asos’s performance based on [September’s] report,” said Marisova.

She did not expect the ongoing mail strike to affect Asos’s delivery because it uses a number of independent courier networks.

“We shall, however, be interested to know the impact the strike may have on the newly introduced free returns policy and Asos’s magazine, both of which remain reliant on the Royal Mail,” she said.