Interim results stated:
Profit Before Tax +33% to £102.7m.
Interim dividend raised by 4%, with net cash of £223m being maintained to support growth opportunities.
The result was driven by the dominant Sports Fashion division, which increased operating profit by 29% to £103m.
Like For Like in UK & Ireland was +3%, with mainland Europe at +7% in constant currency.
Expects Full Year results to be at the upper end of the Profit Before Tax consensus range of £268m-290m.
As of 8:05 the stock was trading up c.11% at c.379.20p