MarketPulse Europe: Shock China Trade Data Slams Luxury Stocks

MarketPulse Europe: Shock China Trade Data Slams Luxury Stocks

Jan 14, 2019

Shares in top European luxury goods companies plunged across the board on Monday, after data showing weakening imports and exports in China prompted investors to flee the sector.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 Personal Goods Index was down 1.3% by 6:49AM ET (11:49 GMT), reversing some of last week's gains which saw it hit a one-month high.

LVMH (PA:LVMH) and Gucci owner Kering (PA:PRTP) were among the biggest fallers in Paris, each down around 3%, while Hermes (PA:HRMS) and Christian Dior (PA:DIOR) both declined by 2%.

Meanwhile, Moncler (MI:MONC) was off by more than 3% in Milan, while Hugo Boss (DE:BOSSn) saw shares slide 1.5% in Frankfurt.

China's December exports unexpectedly fell 4.4% from a year earlier, the most in two years, according to data released earlier. Imports also saw a shock drop, falling 7.6% in their biggest decline since July 2016.

The Asian nation, which is the world's second largest economy, is a major source of revenue for many luxury goods firms, which rely on appetite for handbags and jewelery from China's growing middle class.

-- Reuters contributed to this report

Join Libertex!

Practice for free on a demo account with 50,000 euro

Register
or start live trading now