Fashion retailer H&M's sales jump, but investors fret over margins

H&M in March flagged price hikes to compensate for higher raw material and transport costs. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein.

H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, posted a forecast-beating 17% jump in March-May sales, joining main rival Inditex in reporting a rebound in demand as pandemic restrictions have eased.

Sales were, however, still lower than before the pandemic began. Investors also voiced concerns over profit margins ahead of H&M's full quarterly earnings report due on June 29.