LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer
Kingfisher reported a 23.1% rise in first half profit,
driven by a strong sales recovery in its second quarter as
consumers took to do-it-yourself (DIY) and gardening projects
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in Britain and
Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said on
Tuesday it made an adjusted pretax profit of 415 million pounds
($531 million) in the six months to July 31, up from 337
million pounds in the same period last year.
"Looking forward, while the near term outlook is uncertain,
the longer term opportunity for Kingfisher is significant," the
group said.
($1 = 0.7813 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)