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[1/2] A man looks at a window display outside a Gucci store, part of the Kering group, at Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district in Hong Kong January 17, 2013. But while Gucci, which accounts for the bulk of profits and revenues at Kering, was the only brand to post a fall in sales, analysts said other labels too posted lower-than-forecast results. Kering said sales fell by 15% in North America in the fourth quarter and by 19% in Asia Pacific. But the situation has been more complicated for Kering, since Gucci relies more heavily on China than competitors. LVMH's fashion and leather goods division, home to Louis Vuitton and Dior, grew sales by 10% over the fourth quarter.

☆ FAB deal with StanChart is trying to 'recycle' U.S. dollar oil money into financial services: Analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAB deal with StanChart is trying to 'recycle' U.S. dollar oil money into financial services: AnalystFirst Abu Dhabi Bank and Standard Chartered could come to an agreement closer to July, according to Head of Financials at Hermes Investment, Filippo Alloatti, after FAB said it was not evaluating an offer for the London-listed bank.

☆ A fugitive billionaire just auctioned off $3.2 million worth of luxury handbags — see highlights from his prized collection
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Billionaire Joseph Lau sold $3.2 million worth of luxury handbags at a Sotheby's auction. Lau is a prolific collector who's purchased roughly 1,500 Hermès bags, Bloomberg reported. The collection included one Chanel bag and 76 Hermès bags, including both the iconic Birkin and Kelly styles. Lau's collection extends beyond handbags to diamonds — including a $53 million 12-carat blue diamond — and art by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bloomberg reported. Lau has auctioned off other pieces in his collection over the years, including $20 million worth of art and fine wine.

☆ Hermès Wins Case Against Artist Who Sold NFTs of Birkin Bags
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Erin Mulvaney | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The Birkin bag has evolved into a coveted luxury item known for its steep price tag and exclusive wait lists. French luxury brand Hermès prevailed in a closely watched intellectual-property trial over an artist who created and sold nonfungible tokens depicting the company’s iconic Birkin handbag, a boost for companies seeking to protect their trademarks in the digital realm. After a weeklong trial, a federal jury in Manhattan on Wednesday awarded Hermès $133,000 in damages from Mason Rothschild, a self-described entrepreneur and artist. The company argued Mr. Rothschild was profiting unlawfully off the goodwill of its sought-after luxury product, with his actions pre-empting the company’s ability to offer products and services in virtual marketplaces. Mr. Rothschild in response said he was engaged in artistic expression protected by the First Amendment.

☆ Michael Kors owner Capri shares plunge after revenue falls across the retailer's luxury brands
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Michael Kors owner Capri Holdings plunged 20% in early trading Wednesday after the company missed earnings expectations and cut its annual profit forecast. Here's how the company did:Earnings per share: $1.84 vs. $2.22 expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. Revenue: $1.51 billion vs. $1.53 billion expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. Revenue fell across the company's luxury brands: Michael Kors revenue fell 7.2% year over year to $1.1 billion, Jimmy Choo revenue fell 5.6% to $168 million, and Versace revenue fell 0.8% to $249 million. Capri said it now expects full year 2023 sales of $5.56 billion, below analyst expectations of $5.72 billion, according to Refinitiv.

☆ Exclusive: The FBI's McGonigal labyrinth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +28 min

She never saw McGonigal pay. "The notion that Mr. Deripaska is some proxy for the Russian state is a blatant lie," Ruben Bunyatyan, a spokesperson for Deripaska, told Insider by email. McGonigal was not charged with espionage, and although there is currently no evidence that McGonigal committed espionage, an FBI source told Insider that the investigation is ongoing. At the FBI, McGonigal racked up a string of big cases and promotions. "He said he needed to make more money," Guerriero told Insider.

/USThe dollar index fell 0.21% from one-month highs, while the Japanese yen gained 1.21% to 131.08 per dollar after unusually strong Japanese wage data. The Australian dollar bolted 1.02% higher after its central bank reiterated further increases would be needed. Asian stocks stabilized overnight after they, like most global share markets, suffered steep losses following that U.S jobs data. Oil prices climbed more than 3% after Powell eased market concerns over rate hikes, while recovering demand in China also boosted prices. Gold eked out gains, tracking a slight pullback in the dollar, as investors mulled comments by Powell and the outlook for the Fed's rate-hike policy.

☆ Supply-driven inflation will be stickier than expected, says Federated Hermes' DeNichilo
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSupply-driven inflation will be stickier than expected, says Federated Hermes' DeNichiloWilliam Lee, chief economist at the Milken Institute, and Stephen DeNichilo, Federated Hermes portfolio manager, join ‘Power Lunch’ to react to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s question-and-answer session at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., this afternoon.

Companies Hermes International SCA FollowNEW YORK, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Hermes International SCA (HRMS.PA) urged a U.S. jury on Monday to find that a creator of non-fungible tokens violated its trademark for Birkin bags, while lawyers for the "MetaBirkins" maker countered that the images were art. "He never tried to mislead anyone into believing that the MetaBirkins came from Hermes," Millsaps said, arguing that Rothschild wanted credit for the project. Warshavsky said Hermes was working on its own Birkin NFTs at the time, and accused Rothschild of "cybersquatting" by trying to beat the company to the market. He said Hermes would not have brought the lawsuit if Rothschild had complied with a December 2021 cease-and-desist letter demanding he stop selling the NFTs. Jonathan Harris, another lawyer for Rothschild, said his client added a disclaimer stating that Hermes was not associated with the NFTs after he received the letter.

☆ From Nike to Nutella: Company names you have probably been mispronouncing your whole life
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Global company names often get Anglicized or Americanized to the point where they're unrecognizable, but brands could see some benefits if their names are pronounced correctly. Allianz: al-ee-anz"Allianz " is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the German word for "alliance." It isn't pronounced like the ancient Greek herald of the gods, Hermes, unlike the U.K. delivery company of similar spelling. Moët & Chandon: mow-et ey shon-donIn contrast to typical French pronunciation, there is a hard "T" sound at the end of "Moët." Heuer is the last name of the company's founder, Edouard Heuer.

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☆ Israeli drones use free-falling bombs, can carry up to a tonne
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TEL AVIV, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Israeli armed drones use gravity bombs that produce no noise or smoke as they fall, making them hard for enemies to anticipate or evade, and the largest model of the aircraft can carry up to a tonne of munitions, the military says. After more than two decades of secrecy, Israel in July went public with the existence of armed drones in its arsenal. The former, the officer said, "is the heaviest drone that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has, which can carry munitions, with an effective payload of around a tonne". The Israeli manufacturers do not publicise the armed capabilities of the drones, under what industry sources have described as a Defence Ministry secrecy policy. All the drone munitions are Israeli-made, the officer said, and "come down in free-fall, and can reach the speed of sound".

☆ Bond investors brace for recession as Fed expected to slow pace of tightening
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The rally comes after Treasuries notched the worst year in their history following the Fed's most aggressive monetary policy tightening since the 1980s. Some equity investors are nevertheless playing it safe, expecting the current rally in stocks to wilt if a recession hits. For now, many investors are wedded to a more dovish view, betting that policymakers will blink if growth starts to slow. "The Fed is closer to the end than the beginning, and rates usually fall across the curve when the Fed is finished raising rates." Of course, some investors are happy to take the central bank at its word and are betting rates stay higher for longer.

☆ Europe's luxury stocks have room to rise, but becoming costly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Lucy Raitano | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/FilesLONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Europe's glittering luxury companies, the region's top stock-market performers in 2023, may see yet more gains driven by a rebound in Chinese spending, but for some the sector is starting to look expensive. An index of European luxury goods retailers (.dMIEU0TA00PUS) has rallied around 18% so far this year, outperforming the wider pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), which is up 6.2% in the same time frame. But the fact that luxury goods companies are not as cheap as they once were is a "concern/point of attention", said Kasper Elmgreen, Head of Equities at Amundi, Europe's largest asset manager. Jelena Sokolova, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said that China reopening is the key issue for European luxury stocks this year, and is already at least 50% priced in. These shares have more room to run higher as Chinese consumers hit the shops again and luxury companies flex their pricing power.

SINGAPORE, Jan 31, (Reuters) - Like many rich Chinese, graduate student Zayn Zhang thinks Singapore could be ideal to park his family's wealth. His family might establish a Singapore family office to manage its wealth in the future, he added. Well-known Singapore family offices include those set up by James Dyson of vacuum cleaner fame, hedge fund manager Ray Dalio and Zhang Yong, founder of China's Haidilao hotpot restaurant chain. Though fresher statistics are not available, those involved in the industry said interest in family offices picked up in 2022 and is expected to continue unabated this year. While some are setting up family offices, others are setting up business headquarters in Singapore or investing in funds domiciled in Singapore, she said.

☆ Gucci's challenge: reigniting heat while boosting timeless appeal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PARIS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Sabato De Sarno, newly appointed by Kering (PRTP.PA) to reinvigorate its prized Gucci brand, needs to spark heat with a new direction, analysts say - a delicate task, given the emphasis executives have also put on the label's timeless appeal. De Sarno, a senior fashion designer from Valentino, is tasked as creative director with reviving the fortunes of the brand that accounted for two-thirds of Kering's profits in 2021. Analysts welcomed Kering's choice of a seasoned but relatively unknown designer, noting that previous creative director Michele did not have a public profile when he was appointed in 2002. His experience at Valentino suggests a "less eccentric aesthetic" than Gucci's previous designer, noted Carole Madjo of Barclays. The designer rose through Valentino's ranks after his arrival in 2009 to become fashion director overseeing both the men's and women's collections, working closely with chief designer Pierpaolo Piccioli.

☆ Virtual Birkin Bags on Trial in Hermès Case Testing IP Rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Erin Mulvaney | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hermès is seeking to stop an artist behind the virtual Birkin handbags, but the creator is arguing constitutional protections for freedom of expression. The Birkin handbag, made by French luxury brand Hermès , for decades has been a symbol of wealth, sold through exclusive shops and mysterious wait-lists at prices that reach tens of thousands of dollars or more. A self-described entrepreneur and artist in 2021 set out to offer another way to own a Birkin, with a digital nonfungible token. Mason Rothschild created a series of 100 digital images he called MetaBirkins, depicting fur-covered purses in the same shape and style as the Hermès luxury product, which he sold as digital tokens on virtual marketplaces. The NFTs sometimes have sold at prices similar to the real handbags.

PARIS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - French luxury goods group Kering (PRTP.PA) has appointed Sabato De Sarno, a senior fashion designer at Valentino, as creative director of its top brand Gucci, it said on Saturday. "I am touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand.”He will present his debut Gucci runway collection at Milan Women's Fashion Week in September 2023. Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri said that having worked with a number of Italy's most renowned luxury fashion houses, De Sarno "brings with him a vast and relevant experience." "Gucci - and the Kering shareholders - need courage and an original point of view." "The eyes of the world will be on him to see if he also has the required creative genius."

☆ Kering appoints De Sarno as Gucci creative director
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Gucci sign is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/FilesPARIS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - French luxury giant Kering (PRTP.PA) has appointed Sabato De Sarno, a senior fashion designer at Valentino, as creative director of its top brand Gucci, it said on Saturday. I am touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand,” De Sarno said in Kering's statement. He will present his debut Gucci runway collection at Milan Women's Fashion Week in September 2023. Former creative director Alessandro Michele, known for his flamboyant and gender-fluid styles, left Gucci abruptly in November after seven years in the job, following tensions between with Kering's top management, sources told Reuters.

☆ Interest rates are high. Here’s a relatively safe way to squeeze more from your cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Be aware that money market accounts offered by a bank are subject to protection from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This isn't the case with money market funds, which can't guarantee that you won't lose money. When shopping for a money market fund, look for offerings that hold high quality underlying investments, and be sure to keep an eye out for fees. Money market funds that Lawrence likes include the Federated Hermes Prime Cash Obligations Fund (PCOXX) and the Fidelity Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund Premium Class (FZEXX). Unless they're tax exempt, money market fund income is subject to federal, state and local taxes.

☆ PREVIEW Luxury giants bank on Chinese return as Western shoppers sober up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

They are expected to see a deceleration in sales growth over the quarter as the post-pandemic splurge on designer fashions begins to ease in the United States and Europe. Hermes (HRMS.PA), which reports fourth-quarter results on Feb. 17, is expected to show sales growth of 17%, a decline from 24% in the third quarter. Luxury spending by Chinese nationals had dipped from 33% of the global personal luxury goods market in 2019 to as little as 17% last year, according to estimates from consultancy Bain. Burberry's like-for-like sales growth slowed sharply to 1% in the quarter to end-December after a 23% fall in mainland China. Although the Chinese are expected to initially resume travelling within Asia, Europe is a region that particularly stands to benefit from a return of Chinese tourists.

☆ Luxury giants bank on Chinese return as Western shoppers sober up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Oman's drilling services firm Abraj plans March listing on Muscat exchange
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Oman's oil and gas drilling services firm Abraj Energy Services plans to list up to 49% of its shares on the Muscat stock exchange in March through an initial public offering (IPO), a company statement said on Sunday. The IPO forms part of an exit plan recently announced by sovereign wealth fund, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), the state news agency said. State energy company OQ, the selling shareholder, is wholly-owned by the OIA, which expects to exit eight investments in 2023 to generate about $1.3 billion. A diversified oil and gas services firm, Abraj is the largest drilling contractor in Oman with a market share of almost 30 percent. States such as Qatar and Oman are now seeking to capitalise on investor appetite for Gulf IPOs and compete with more active regional exchanges.

The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) climbed 0.3% at 0936 GMT, boosted by gains in banks (.SX7P) and industrials (.SXNP). European shares were on track to snap a two-week winning streak, thanks to the worst single-day selloff so far this month on Thursday following disappointing earnings reports, weak U.S. economic data and hawkish comments from central bankers. Energy stocks (.SXEP) gained 0.8%, tracking firm crude prices on hopes of demand recovery in the world's second-biggest economy. "Europe has more exposure to China reopening and luxury is a big part of the European market," said Jamie Mills O'Brien, investment manager at Abrdn. "Some of the big players are pure China reopening bets."

☆ Stock market should consolidate through the end of January, says Federated Hermes' Duessel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStock market should consolidate through the end of January, says Federated Hermes' DuesselSherry Paul, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management senior portfolio manager, and Linda Duessel, Federated Hermes senior equity strategist, join 'Squawk Box' to discuss where markets go from here, if it's hard to be a bear right now and more.

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