NEW YORK, May 6 (Reuters) - Women's apparel retailer Talbots Inc (TLB.N) affirmed its first-quarter earnings forecast on Wednesday 6 May, and its shares rose 3.6 percent.

"Cardi Garden" publicity for Talbot's Inc

The company said it still expects to post a loss of 47 to 52 cents per share, excluding items, for the quarter ended May 2. Analysts on average have been expecting a loss of 49 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Talbots also said it will no longer report quarterly sales results separately.

Talbots shares were up 11 cents at $3.13 in early morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Martinne Geller, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)