STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Hennes & Mauritz, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, posted on Monday a 14 percent rise in October sales from a year ago, beating forecasts.

Analysts polled by Reuters had on average predicted a 10 percent rise.

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The Swedish budget fashion firm, which has the bulk of business in Europe, has said that in September, when sales growth landed at 8 percent, many customers delayed purchases of cold-weather gear amid unusually warm weather.