Kingfisher sees top-end profits after strong quarter

B&Q owner Kingfisher expects its full-year profits to be at the top end of expectations after strength in the international business helped the DIY retailer shrug off weather- and economy-related difficulties in Britain and Ireland in the fourth quarter.Like-for-like sales in Britain and Ireland during the three months were flat from the same period a year ago, broadly in line with expectations, while total sales were up by 0.6% to £954m.In France, its other big market, like-for-like sales were up by 2%, though total sales were down by 2.3% on a constant currency basis to £896m due to the movement of the pound against the euro. Other international markets saw like-for-like sales slip by 1.1%, though they were up by 3.1% overall to £455m.Sales at B&Q in the UK and Castorama, the company's main operation in France, were hit by the wintery weather in December, which kept shoppers away from out of town shops and disrupted delivery and installation of kitchens.Elsewhere, sales were strong in Poland, Russia and Spain, but fell by 21.5% in China to £106m due to the closure of two shops."Our international businesses delivered strong growth in the final quarter, more than offsetting some weather disruption and a weak market in the UK & Ireland, and so we expect to announce full year profits towards the top end of the range of analyst estimates," said chief executive Ian Cheshire.Analysts had been predicting a consensus adjusted pre-tax profit of £666m for the full year, in a range between £661m and £672m.