STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Hennes & Mauritz (ST:HMb), the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, posted forecast-beating sales in December, extending what has been a strong run for the Swedish company, into a new fiscal year.
December was the ninth consecutive month that H&M, which is benefiting from a recovering U.S. economy, reached sales clearly or slightly above analysts' expectations in Reuters polls.
The company, which lags Zara owner Inditex (MC:ITX) in annual sales, said on Thursday its sales rose 15 percent year on year in December, above a 13 percent increase expected by analysts.
December is the first month of the company's fiscal first quarter. It will unveil detailed earnings for 2013/2014 on Jan. 28.