The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) unleashed its fury on Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont (RCH) on Thursday, after the group said in a trading update that its operating profit for the financial year to March 31 would be below market expectations and possibly below 2002’s level by as much as 40%.
At 1022, Richemont shares were trading at R11.30 on the JSE, down 13.08% or R1,70 rand. They had earlier touched R11.20 — their lowest since July 1999. The Swiss market was no more tolerant, with Richemont shares nosediving almost 16% in opening trade.
Richemont’s statement said that trading in recent months had continued to suffer from the depressed economic climate. In particular, sales in the company’s two core business areas, jewellery and watches, had been adversely affected by the further decline in consumer confidence.
The significant weakening of both the dollar and the yen against the euro, the company’s reporting currency, had also had an adverse affect on sales and margins.
“The trading update is not good, although after the interim results Johann Rupert, the group’s executive chairman, expressed fears about the overall situation in the global economy,” a dealer said.
At the interim stage, Richemont reported a 27% decline in operating profit to 185 million euro from a comparable 253 million euro. Rupert said at the time that while the group viewed the outlook for the remainder of the financial year with “utmost caution”, he expected the rate of decline in operating profit for the year as a whole to be less than that experienced in the first six-month period.
“Such a view is, of course, predicated upon there being no further deterioration in market sentiment as a consequence of events outside our control,” Rupert added.
The dealer noted that after hitting a long-term low of R11.45 on March 11, Richemont shares had since rallied as high as R13.10. Now they had surrendered all these gains and then some.
“The rally was probably fuelled buying on hopes of a quick US victory on Iraq. Before this, the share price was reflecting the tough market conditions.
“Richemont is a big player in our market. It is number three in terms of both trade and weight and also gives a good indication of what is happening at the top end of the market. Luxury goods companies are generally quite resilient — they maintain prices and never give up margins. Usually, the rich continue to spend,” the dealer remarked.
The dealer cautioned that Richemont might be in for more hard times. “I think the war might hit them, if it affects international travel the way September 11, 2001, did. People often buy luxury goods at airports.” – I-Net Bridge