Boots, the British pharmacy chain, which opened its first Irish store in the Jervis Shopping Centre this week, yesterday reported a 9.4 per cent increase in first half profits.

The group, which plans to open several more stores here, said it was looking forward to a good Christmas now shoppers in Britain appeared to have loosened their purse strings.

Pre«MDBO» «MDNM»tax profits in the half year to September 30th rose to £239.2 million sterling from £218.7 million. Total sales increased 12 per cent to £2.1 billion from £1.89 billion. The dividend was up 8.8 per cent to 6.2p a share.