Kathmandu has reported a lift in first-half profits. A strong performance from its Australian operations helped Kathmandu defy weak retail conditions here and post double digit sales growth and a 72 per cent rise in net profit to $NZ10.3 million, but the company did not provide any full-year guidance ahead of the all-important second half. Kathmandu chairman, John Harvey, told analysts to expect similar results in the second half of the year. ""The current economic conditions are not going to suddenly turn around it is unlikely we're going to see any improvement in the second half," he said on a conference call Tuesday morning. ""Given the continued difficult market conditions, particularly the recent weather patterns, we don't bellieve it is appropriate or possible to give specific guidance other than to say that we do remain confident that we will be able to deliver a strong performance for 2012-13."" In a statement to the market Kathmandu chief executive Peter Halkett said the company opened nine new stores in the half and grew its online sales by 50 per cent. ""There was strong sales growth over the period; underpinned by successful new store openings and a solid increase in same store sales, despite a challenging market overall,"" Mr Halkett said in the statement. The stock has jumped more than 40 per cent since last November when Kathmandu told shareholders that year-to-date sales were up 19.5 per cent.Same store sales in Australia - which provides more than 62 per cent of its sales - were up 9.6 per cent for the six months to January 31. Same store sales in New Zealand, its other major market, were up 1.3 per cent. The company's EBIT margin (earnings before interest and tax) increased from 8.7 per cent to 9.5 per cent. The result was in line with guidance following a profit upgrade last month where the company reported sales for the six months to January 31 and said net profit would be between $NZ9.5 million and $NZ10.5 million. On a conference call this morning acting chairman John Harvey said the company expects to deliver a strong profit outcome for the year but failed to offer any further guidance with weather conditions, and crucial sales including the critical Easter sales which are now commencing. Mr Halkett did not attend the conference call as he was recovering from illness. In February, the company said it expected up to 70 per cent of its full-year earnings to be made in the second half of the financial year.