Blacktown. Retailer's profit up 43.6 per cent

Women’s wear retailer Noni B, at Blacktown, has reported a 43.4 per cent rise in first-half profit to $3.6 million and lifted its interim dividend to 6¢ a share, fully franked, compared with 2¢ in the prior first half. Noni B, which sells mainly to the 40-plus demographic, said sales for the six months to December 31 were $62.5 million, in line with the previous corresponding period.