STRONG profits and sales gains reported on Thursday by Swiss luxury goods and tobacco group Richemont confirmed a rebound in key Asian markets and helped lift luxury goods stocks in early trading across Europe. Richemont posted a 19,6% gain in attributable profit for the year ended March 31, driven largely by higher earnings in its Vendome luxury group, which includes such premier brands as Cartier, Alfred Dunhill, Montblanc and Baume & Mercier. Richemont reported that overall sales revenues after exchange rate effects for the year slipped to 4,60-billion from 4,66-billion in 1998. It noted weakness in its stakes in French television network Canal Plus and US catalogue retailer Hanover Direct. Along with its South African sister firm Rembrandt, Richemont completed the sale of their Rothmans tobacco unit to British American Tobacco this month. Richemont and Rembrandt are partially owned by SA’s Rupert family.