DIY giant Kingfisher plc (LON:KGF) shares lifted 3.17% as it said it had made solid progress on its turnaround plan unveiled in January as it posted final results.
Retail profit for the year to end January was up 7.4% to £746mln largely due to a good performance from Screwfix and a stable overall performance in France.
Sales in the UK and Ireland rose 5.6% to around £4.8bn compared to 2014/15 on constant currency basis.
However, statutory profit for the year was £512mln, over 20% down from £644mln in 2014. Adjusted pre-tax profit, which excludes restructuring costs, rose 0.3% rise to £686mln.
Earlier this year, the firm set ambitious five year financial targets, including the aim to increase annual pre-tax profits by £500mln within five years and return £600mln to shareholders. Last year, it said it would close 65 B&Q stores in the UK and Ireland.
Karen Witts, chief financial officer, said: "In the short term, the fundamentals of the UK economic backdrop remain positive, although we remain cautious on the outlook for France.
"The outlook for the wider global economy remains uncertain, and the impact of the outcome of the UK EU referendum is unknown."