[Jackie Davies - www.stock.adobe.com]

(Sharecast News) - UK furniture and homewares chain Dunelm (DNLM)  lifted its dividend and declared a special payout after a rise in interim profits and sales amid volatile trading conditions.
The dividend was lifted 7% to 16p a share. Shareholders will also receive a special 35-a-share payout as pre-tax profit for the six months to December 30 rose 4.8% to £123m and sales increased 4.5% to £872.5m.

Full-year guidance was maintained.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com