Cool autumn helps out Hallenstein Glasson

Retailer Hallenstein Glasson said today sales in the April quarter sales were up 4 per cent on last year.

"Sales of winter apparel for both women's and men's during April have been particularly satisfactory with the onset of cooler weather acting as a catalyst in driving sales in both New Zealand and Australia," the company said in a statement.

It said the result to the end of April was a strong improvement on the previously announced sales figure after seven weeks of 1 per cent fall.

Hallenstein shares rose 9c to $5.06 in response to the news. The stock has traded between $4.85 and $5.75 in the last year.

In March Hallenstein blamed cool summer weather for a 8.6 per cent fall in half year net profit after tax to $9.97 million from $10.9m a year earlier.

- NZPA