JD Sports posts record half-year profits of £46.6m

Sports and outdoor retailer JD Sports shrugged off the high street gloom to post record half-year profits.

The Bury-based firm, which also owns Blacks and Millets, said underlying pre-tax profits leapt 83% to a better-than-forecast £46.6m in the 26 weeks to August 1, driven by 10% like-for-like sales growth at its sports shops for the second year in a row.