NEW YORK, United States — Tiffany & Co., the world's second- largest luxury jewelry retailer, reported a 4 percent increase in holiday sales, driven by demand in the U.S. and Asia. Global sales in November and December rose to $1.03 billion, the New York-based company said today in a statement. Tiffany recorded a 4 percent gain in the period a year earlier.

Sales were helped by “generally supportive” macroeconomic trends, David Schick, an analyst at Stifel Financial Corp., wrote in a Jan. 6 note. Purchases also may have been driven by new designs in the Atlas collection, featuring Roman numerals, and the Ziegfeld collection, inspired by last year’s “Great Gatsby” film, he said.

Sales at stores open at least a year increased 6 percent, according to the statement. The company also reaffirmed its full-year profit forecast. Earnings per share for the year ending Jan. 31 will be as much as $3.75, Tiffany said today. Analysts’ projected $3.79, the average of 23 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Tiffany rose 0.3 percent to $92.01 yesterday in New York. The stock jumped 62 percent last year.

The company will report fourth-quarter earnings on March 21.

Cie. Financiere Richemont SA is the world's largest luxury jewelry maker.

By Cotten Timberlake; Editior: Robin Ajello