H&M, Europe’s second-largest clothing retailer, said sales in June had risen 17% after the company opened new stores and collections by Kylie Minogue and Madonna were well received by customers. The Times. Daily Telegraph

The retailer had 1,420 stores at the end of June, compared with 1,244 on the same date a year earlier, it said.

The company has kmore than 100 stores in Britain and opened shops in Spain, France, Canada and Poland last year. It hopes to open an extra 95 stores, including in the US, by the end of 2007.