Australia's Just Group says H2 margins are up

MELBOURNE, June 2 (Reuters) - Australian clothing retailer Just Group JST.AX, fending off a hostile A$836 million ($800 million) bid by billionaire investor Solomon Lew, said its gross margins have improved in the 17 weeks of the second half.

Chief Executive Jason Murray also told reporters that the current level of discounting in Just stores was normal and in line with last year, despite a softer economic environment. ($1=1.046 Australian Dollar) (Reporting by Victoria Thieberger; )