AUSTRALIAN RETAILER DAVID JONES CONFIDENT ABOUT 2008 FY FIGURES.

SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Top-end retailer David Jones Ltd (ASX:DJS) is confident about the 2008 financial year, saying it doesn't foresee any major risks up ahead.

However, a federal election date clash with the Christmas shopping season or the cancellation of the spring racing carnival because of horse flu could impact on sales.

David Jones chief executive Mark McInnes told Sky News he did not agree with suggestions by some analysts that the retail cycle had hit the top.

"We don't think our profit after tax growth or dividend growth is near the peak.

"The economic cycle for the next 12 months still looks pretty good ... so I'd say they've got the next 12 months wrong," Mr McInnes said.

Last week David Jones posted a 35 per cent jump in net profit to A$109.52 million (US$96.6 million) for the 12 months to July 29, which came a day after its rival Myer revealed a A$84 million net profit.

David Jones sales were up 8.9 per cent in the year - or 8.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis, discounting the effect of more store openings - to A$1.98 billion in 2007.