Ted Baker conquers London Stock Exchange

Shares in British fashion retailer Ted Baker reached

a record high Thursday after international expansion drove a better than expected spring performance. The retailer is celebrating 25 years in the trade more in fashion than ever, leading both the trading floor and the high street.

Ted Baker has reported a 32.7 percent leapt in sales in the 20 weeks to 15 June on a yearly basis and mainly boosted by foreign markets. Ted Baker has grown its international footprint since the start of the year by opening concessions in France, Spain, the Netherlands and Tokyo alongside shops in Shanghai, Adelaide, Beirut and Kuwait.

"We are continuing to invest in developing the Ted Baker brand internationally and have been encouraged by the reaction to the brand and the collections in our new markets," summarised a proud Ray Kelvin, founder and chief executive at the preppy British brand.

Ted Baker stock led the gains on Thursday in London, as it soared 16 percent, adding a final 230 pence and closing the session at a record high of 17 pounds. Shares in the company have risen 63 percent in the last year.

Panmure Gordon has raised its target price for Ted Baker from 1,411 pence to 1,571 pence after the British fashion group's better-than-expected first quarter, but has kept its 'hold' rating on the stock.

On a separate note, production levels among UK manufacturers were flat in the three months to June, disappointing expectations of strong growth, according to the latest industrial trends survey from the CBI and as broadly covered by national media.

Export orders reached a historic low (- 22 percent) since January, with small and medium sized companies struggling the most.