Fast Retailing's H1 profit likely up 16 pct-Nikkei

TOKYO, March 5 (Reuters) - Fast Retailing Co Ltd (9983.T: Quote, Profile, Research) is likely to post 16 percent growth in half-year operating profit, beating its own forecast on solid sales of underwear and sweaters, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday.

Operating profit at the operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain for September-February is likely to total some 50 billion yen ($483.9 million), up 4 billion from the firm's earlier estimate, the Nikkei said.

The chain's six-month same-store sales grew 1.5 percent, beating its forecast, the paper said. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)