L'Oreal Shares Down After Q3 Sales Disappoint 

Model Cindy Bruna presents a creation during a public show named "Walk Your Worth" organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal near the Eiffel Tower as part of Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, October 1, 2023. (Reuters)
Model Cindy Bruna presents a creation during a public show named "Walk Your Worth" organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal near the Eiffel Tower as part of Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, October 1, 2023. (Reuters)
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L'Oreal Shares Down After Q3 Sales Disappoint 

Model Cindy Bruna presents a creation during a public show named "Walk Your Worth" organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal near the Eiffel Tower as part of Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, October 1, 2023. (Reuters)
Model Cindy Bruna presents a creation during a public show named "Walk Your Worth" organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal near the Eiffel Tower as part of Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, October 1, 2023. (Reuters)

L’Oreal shares fell on Friday, sinking to their lowest level since March, after a larger-than-expected hit to its travel retail business in Asia and disappointing sales of its luxury division as inflation and a choppy economic environment curb high-end spending.

Shares were down 2.6% in early trading, the lowest performer on the Paris CAC-40 index.

A slowdown in the luxury division was most likely expected after LVMH’s perfume and cosmetics division slightly missed expectations last week, but 3.2% growth versus consensus expectations of 12.2% likely comes as a negative surprise to the market, Jefferies analysts said.

Analysts also pointed to a sharper-than-expected hit to business in Asia from tighter controls by the Chinese government of daigou resellers, who buy products at lower prices abroad and resell them at a discount in China.

Although weakness in North Asia because of travel retail issues and the luxury division was expected by investors, the scale of the miss "took us by surprise," analysts at Barclays said.



UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
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UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)

British online fashion retailer ASOS on Tuesday named Aaron Izzard, director of group finance, as its new CFO as the current finance boss, Dave Murray, will be stepping down on June 30 to pursue other opportunities.

Murray, a former Amazon executive who joined ASOS as CFO in April 2024, will remain with the company for a handover period, ASOS said.

Izzard, who joined ASOS as head of retail finance in 2017, has held several finance roles at the company over more than eight years. His appointment will be effective July 1.

Since the end of April 2024, when Murray took up the role of CFO, ASOS shares are down roughly 8% as of Monday's close.

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years.

However, the British retailer could benefit from new headwinds facing its Chinese competitors, including high US import tariffs under President Donald Trump and changes to customs rules on direct-to-consumer shipments in both countries.

In April, ASOS said it was well-positioned to withstand the impact of the US tariffs and reported a rise in half-year earnings, signaling early progress in efforts to revive its fast-fashion appeal among younger shoppers.