However, the retailer noted the results were set against weak comparatives from the same period last year.
Half-year profits are expected to be in the region of£2.5 million to£3 million, compared with a loss last year of£200,000 before tax.
Laura Ashley said the market remained 'challenging and competitive', but the group was looking forward to a much-improved performance for the full year.
Analysts Numis said: 'Given that the rest of the clothing market seems to be finding life very tough at the moment, this represents a very impressive performance. It would be overoptimistic to extrapolate the existing trend into the year as a whole. But there is no doubting Laura Ashley has some strong momentum and we would expect to see further like-for-like gains.'
No comments yet