JD Sports Fashion has revealed sales are running ahead of last year with a buoyant trading update sending the company's share price soaring 11%.
The retailer, which recently acquired a majority stake in Tiso Group in a deal which included the Scottish company's subsidiaries George Fisher, Alpine Bikes and ski brand Blues, said its core sports and fashion stores in the UK and Ireland have continued to see strong levels of sales.
It had indicated in its interim results that segment was 5.8% up year-on-year.
Yesterday it confirmed that trend had continued and said: "We are pleased to report that after a further sixteen weeks' trading, the like-for-like sales improvement for these Fascias stands cumulatively at very much the same level."
Lancashire-based JD also said it was seeing an improvement in the outdoor brands Blacks and Millets which have previously acted as a drag on profits.
It said: "We are also pleased with very recent progress in the Outdoor Fascias."
JD had initially planned to merge Millets with Blacks after it bought both brands out of administration.
But earlier this year JD changed its mind and decided to keep Millets going as a separate brand which saved a number of stores.
In spite of the improving performance JD refused to get carried away suggesting the full year performance would depend on its sales performance and margin levels across the Christmas period.
It added: "At this stage the Board believes the Group remains on course to deliver earnings at least in line with current expectations."
Analysts said the statement implied that JD's loss-making fashion division - which includes the Bank and Scotts brands - continued to lose sales.
Bank has been undergoing an overhaul with former Asos executive Gwynn Milligan appointed as chief executive.
Half-year figures had shown an improving picture for Scotts, though it was also loss-making.
Meanwhile, the JD Sports brand, which recorded a 7.5% improvement in UK and Ireland like-for-like sales in the first half, appears to have continued to make progress.
Investec analyst Kate Calvert said: "While Christmas is a very important period, this statement reassures that the core business is performing well and that outdoor is improving."
She said the stock looked under-valued, particularly in light of the growth potential internationally and online.
Freddie George of Cantor Fitzgerald added: "The trading update in the first 16 weeks of the second half was markedly better than expected."
Shares closed up 138.5p at 1380p.
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