Tiffany posts higher first-quarter profit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. jeweler Tiffany & Co (TIF.N) reported a higher quarterly profit on Friday, boosted by strong sales in international markets, which pushed modest domestic sales to the backseat.

The net profit came to $64.4 million or 50 cents a share, in the quarter that ended Apr. 30, compared to $54.1 million or 39 cents a share in the year-earlier period.

While Tiffany, like more mid-tier rivals such as Zale Corp (ZLC.N) or Finlay Enterprises FNLY.O, has also gone through a rough patch due to the weak U.S. economy, the jeweler said earlier in May that the year had gotten off to a "promising start."

U.S. shoppers have cut back on items like jewelry and furniture, as they spend carefully and largely on necessities with rising prices such as food and gasoline.

(Reporting by Aarthi Sivaraman; Editing by Derek Caney)