Fashion group Fast Retailing has announced a 43% jump in operating profit for the first half to February, lifted by strong sales at Uniqlo.

Consolidated net sales totalled ¥470.9bn (£3.23bn), rocketing 31.8% year on year. Like-for-likes at Uniqlo stores in Japan rose 13.1% for the period, beating its forecast of 11.2% growth.

In addition, chief operating officer Naoki Otoma said that Fast Retailing could enter the high-growth markets of India and Brazil if its new expansion in Russia is successful.