Swiss luxury group Richemont, owner of Cartier and other iconic luxury brands, on Friday reported sales ahead of analysts’ forecasts notably thanks to strength in its jewellery division.

A rebound in some Asian markets, especially China, also contributed to its performance, resulting in sales of 10.6 billion euros ($12.3 billion) between April and September — the first half of Richemont’s financial year — a rise of five percent.

Stripping out exchange rate factors, the increase was 10 percent, the company said.

The sales figure compares with an analysts’ consensus forecast compiled by the AWP agency of 10.4 billion euros.

Richemont chairman Johann Rupert called the group’s performance “solid”, saying in a statement it had been achieved “against a persistently complex macroeconomic and

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