TIME AND SPACE
Swatch profit falls on weak China demand
Swatch profit falls on weak China demand
by AFP Staff Writers
Zurich (AFP) Jan 30, 2025
Shares in Swiss watchmaker Swatch slumped Thursday after it reported lower-than-expected earnings on the back of weak sales in China.

The group, which also owns the Tissot, Longines and Omega brands, said net profit fell to 219 million Swiss francs ($240 million) in 2024 from 890 million the previous year.

The consensus was 407 million francs, according to analysts polled by Swiss news agency AWP.

Revenue slipped 14.6 percent to 6.7 billion francs, also below expectations.

Swatch shares fell as much as seven percent in Zurich and were last down about three percent in an otherwise higher market.

In a statement, the company blamed the weaker results on "persistently difficult market situation and weak demand for consumer goods overall in China".

Looking ahead to 2025, it said "demand in China will continue to be rather restrained".

Many European luxury goods companies suffered in 2024 after three years of strong growth as China's economy was hit by a real estate crisis.

China, Hong Kong and Macau traditionally represent about a third of Swatch's sales.

Related Links
Understanding Time and Space

Tweet

TIME AND SPACE
On the path to defining a new second
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jan 20, 2025
The future of timekeeping is being reshaped by optical atomic clocks, which operate with laser frequencies roughly 100,000 times faster than the microwave frequencies of caesium clocks, the current standard for defining the second in the International System of Units (SI). Some of these optical clocks are already 100 times more accurate than caesium clocks and are poised to redefine the second. However, before this transition occurs, these optical clocks must demonstrate reliability through repeated tes ... read more

TIME AND SPACE
Teledyne Brown Engineering Completes Successful Launch of Black Dagger Zombie Target Missile

Iron Dome for America: Trump's missile defense effort

Trump orders planning for 'Iron Dome' missile shield for US

RTX's Raytheon secures $529 million contract to bolster Dutch Patriot air defense system

TIME AND SPACE
Philippines to remove US missile system if China ends 'coercive behaviour'

Poland to buy over 200 anti-radar missiles from US

Philippines to train with US Typhon missile system next month

Kyiv says Ukraine missiles hit army radars in Russia

TIME AND SPACE
Fatal Ukrainian drone barrage on Russia hits oil refinery

Firestorm Labs awarded $100M contract by US Air Force to boost UAS development

'Unprecedented' level of control allows person without use of limbs to operate virtual quadcopter

US Navy expands contract with Packet Digital to advance UAS battery systems

TIME AND SPACE
ESA and Hisdesat prepare to launch advanced secure communications satellite

SpaceX set to launch Hisdesat's SpainSat NG I satellite on January 28

Controversy in Italy over potential deal with Musk's SpaceX

Quadsat and NATO NCIA validate Quadsat system for WGS compliance testing

TIME AND SPACE
US pledges $117 mn in aid to Lebanon military

Spain pledges 10 million euros for Lebanon army

Swiss to mull conscripting women

US. unveils $500M in military aid at final Ukraine defense summit before Trump takes office

TIME AND SPACE
Russia former deputy defence minister faces embezzlement trial

Ukraine sacks deputy minister amid arms procurement infighting

Portugal says to meet NATO defence spend minimum earlier

India boosts domestic arms industry and looks West to pare back Russia reliance

TIME AND SPACE
Google Maps to show 'Gulf of America' to US users

Putin says Russia 'ready for negotiations' with Donald Trump on Ukraine

Hegseth sworn in as US defense secretary

Pandas, like Trump, are back in Washington

TIME AND SPACE