International sales boost online giant

THE weak pound lifted sales at online fashion retailer Asos.

The fashion firm now expects total sales to be at the upper end of forecasts as international sales rocketed.

It shipped 16.9m orders in the four months to the end of June, up 28pc year-on-year, with international retail sales up 44pc to £425.5m.

Asos ships to more than 200 countries and offers free standard delivery to all customers who spend over a certain amount.

It makes the bulk of its sales overseas, which has allowed it to avoid the slowdown faced by UK-focused rivals.

But while sales in the UK, its largest market, increased 16pc they came in lower than analyst expectations.

Richard Chamberlain, an analyst at RBC, said: ‘This may be taken negatively given the UK is a signal as to the company’s longer term sales potential and maturity. However it is a very strong performance in what has been a slowing market overall.’