By Ruth Bender
PARIS---Luxury goods giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
warned Wednesday that the continuing pro-democracy protests in Hong
Kong were having some impact on its business, as fewer travelers
made their way to stores in the city center in recent weeks.
LVMH's financial director Jean-Jacques Guiony said the group has
seen some impact in its selective retailing business, which
includes duty free shop operator DFS Group, in the early weeks of
October.
Hong Kong is an important income source for luxury goods makers
such as LVMH and analysts have been concerned that luxury groups
could hurt as the protests have disrupted travels to Hong Kong.
Mr. Guiony said that there have been fewer shoppers in stores in
downtown Hong Kong as travel to the city, especially of large
tourist groups, has been disrupted amid the continuing
protests.
Protests in Hong Kong reached a new phase of conflict earlier
this week as police and students clashed over territory in
districts that have been paralyzed by pro-democracy rallies for
more than 2 1/2 weeks.
Mr. Guinoy said that while sales in its selective retail shops
in downtown Hong Kong were lower in the first few weeks of October,
sales in duty free shops in the airport were unaffected by the
happenings in the city.
Write to Ruth Bender at Ruth.Bender@wsj.com
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