According to the results of the first half of the year, which ended June 30, sales of Swatch Group at constant exchange rates showed an increase of 8.5% to $ 5 billion (4.535 billion Swiss francs), Rapaport reports.
In all important exporting regions, the positions of the Swiss franc were strengthened, which gave an increase in revenue of $ 200 million (188 million Swiss francs), or 4.5 percentage points. The Swatch Group's profit fell 11.5% on a year-on-year basis to $ 754 million (680 million Swiss francs).
In the watch and jewelery segment, Swatch Group registered an increase in sales of 8.8%, excluding exchange rate differences, or 4.3%, adjusted for currency exchange rates.
Harry Winston has made additional investments to expand the range of products and jewelry range of the highest price category, as well as the development of a new collection of watches, presented at the fair Baselworld 2014, which will appear in stores in the second half of the year. The brand also invested in the upgrade of retail stores.
As of the end of June, the Swatch Group had more than 34,000 employees, and its inventory was valued at $ 6.35 billion (5.729 billion Swiss francs).
Swatch expects that the second half will be quite successful for all segments of its business, especially in the US and Japan.