The Japanese operator of the global Uniqlo clothing chain said on Thursday that first-quarter operating profit rose 7.4%, a solid start to its plan to achieve record profits for a fourth-straight year.

Shares in the owner of Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo fell almost seven per cent on Friday after the company reported a weak quarterly performance in China.

The operator of the Uniqlo global clothing chain reported first quarter results on Thursday that trailed analyst forecasts as a sharp decline in profit in China overshadowed strong sales in its home market of Japan.

Fast's Uniqlo business in China was impacted by incorrect inventory allocation, while the Southern U.S. region was cited for strong growth.