Suntory Will Gauge US Consumer Sentiment for Whisky Price Hike
'We have to learn and read the sentiment in the United States,' Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Niinami told Bloomberg TV in Tokyo on Tuesday.
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Under Armour forecasts downbeat quarterly sales, shares drop
(Reuters) -Under Armour forecast second-quarter revenue below estimates on Friday as the sportswear maker grapples with muted demand in North America due to still-high inflation and tariff uncertainty, sending its shares down 14% in premarket trading. The Maryland-based retailer's attempts to reset its business after sales declined over the last two years have been in jeopardy, with consumer spending weakening in the U.S. as the Trump administration's fluctuating tariff policies fan uncertainty. Under Armour in May announced plans to raise prices, risking demand for its apparel as customers look for cheaper options. On Friday, the company said the forecast includes considerations for ongoing uncertainty around trade policies and the broader macroeconomic environment, including potential demand and cost impacts from tariffs. The company now expects quarterly revenue to decline between 6% and 7%, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 2.9% drop, according to data compiled by LSEG.
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd (HKSHF) (H1 2025) Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue ...
Release Date: August 06, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd (HKSHF) reported a 13% increase in revenue from operations year-on-year, driven by strong performance in key locations such as Tokyo and New York. Operating EITA, excluding sales of Peninsula London residences, increased by 63% compared to the previous year. The company's financial position remains strong with a stable net debt to total assets ratio of 25% and an A credit rating from both the Japan Credit Rating Agency Limited and Rating and Investment Information Inc. The Peninsula Tokyo and Peninsula New York reported significant revenue growth, with Tokyo achieving historically high rates and New York benefiting from recent renovations. The newly opened Peninsula London and Peninsula Istanbul hotels are showing promising progress with revenue growth of 8% and 31% respectively. Negative Points The group reported an underlying loss of $216 million, primarily due to depreciation and net financing charges, despite improvements from the previous year. Revenue from the Greater China hotels faced challenges, with stable RevPAR growth but weaker demand affecting overall performance. The Peninsula Beijing experienced a challenging first half with a 9% decrease in RevPAR due to geopolitical tensions and reduced flight capacity. The company's total revenue decreased by 29% compared to the previous year due to the absence of London residential sales. The landmark property in Vietnam is facing an uncertain future with the joint venture and land use rights set to expire in January 2026, with no possibility of extension. Q & A Highlights Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with HKSHF. Q: What is the company strategy to sell the remaining 6 Peninsula London residences? A: The company plans to actively market the remaining 6 units by completing the renovation of 3 units by the end of September, which will be fully furnished to showcase their offerings. Additional promotional activities will also be undertaken to highlight the availability of these residences, as there is a misconception in the market that all units have been sold. Q: What is the company's strategy to improve the margin, cash flow, and dividend opportunity in the future? A: The strategy involves maintaining or improving top-line revenue while focusing on cost management, including operating costs and capital expenditure. The company aims to drive margins in rooms, food and beverage, and overall fixed costs, as evidenced by the improvements in the first half of the year. Q: What is the company's geographical strategy in the future, especially with the exit from the Landmark in Vietnam? A: The company is focused on maintaining a stable and diversified portfolio across continents. With 50% of hotels in Asia, 25% in Europe, and 25% in the US, the recent expansions in Europe with Peninsula London and Peninsula Istanbul are part of this strategy. The exit from the Landmark in Vietnam is a regretted decision but has a marginal impact on the overall geographical footprint. Q: What is the company's average daily rate strategy for the Greater China Hotels? A: The revenue strategy in mainland China focuses on a mix of online travel agents and preferred travel partners like Pen Club. The company balances these channels with direct bookings through digital marketing efforts, although there is a heavier reliance on online travel agents in mainland China. Q: Does the company have any plan to sell existing assets to reduce the debt level? A: Currently, the company is conducting a strategic review of its overall business to identify strengths and opportunities. The results of this review will be shared in the first or second quarter of 2026, which will provide more clarity on any potential asset sales. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
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Morning Bid: Trump Fed forms, Tech hits high
By Mike Dolan LONDON (Reuters) - What matters in U.S. and global markets today By Mike Dolan, Editor-At-Large, Finance and Markets The S&P 500 may have stalled on Thursday, but the Nasdaq hit a new high, as a week of positive earnings surprises and rising Fed easing expectations overshadowed tariff worries and a few isolated stock flubs. Tech excitement continues to push up all major index futures ahead of Friday's bell. * The stock stumbles on Thursday included an outsize 14% earnings-day hit to pharma giant Eli Lilly after a disappointing drug trial and a 3% drop in Intel after Trump demanded the resignation of its CEO due to Chinese links. * Longer-term Fed easing expectations were buoyed after Trump said he will nominate Council of Economic Advisors Chairperson Stephen Miran to temporarily fill Adriana Kugler's vacant board seat and dovish Fed Governor Chris Waller was reported to be his top pick for the Chair next year. JPMorgan now expects a rate cut next month, and the futures market is pricing in rates as low as 3% by the end of next year, about 20 basis points lower than expected a month ago. * U.S. Treasury yields flatlined and the dollar nudged higher, as Thursday's long-bond auction continued a week of lukewarm debt sales and weekly jobless claims data showed few signs of the softness flagged in last week's payrolls report. Sterling was firmer after the Bank of England only narrowly voted to cut rates on Thursday, and the peso was steady after Mexico's central bank eased again too. * U.S. gold futures climbed to a record high on Friday after a Financial Times report said the United States had imposed tariffs on imports of one kilo and 100 ounce gold bars, a move that could impact Switzerland, the world's largest gold refining hub. Crude oil prices fell to two-month lows as the expected talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the prospect of easing sanctions on Russia. Today's Market Minute: * U.S. President Donald Trump has wielded the threat of tariffs as an all-purpose foreign policy weapon. With a Friday deadline for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or have its oil customers face secondary tariffs, Trump has found a novel, but risky, use for his favorite trade tool. * OpenAI launched on Thursday its GPT-5 artificial intelligence model, the highly anticipated latest installment of a technology that has helped transform global business and culture. * Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war. * U.S. President Donald Trump has the so-called 'BRIC' group of nations directly in his trade war crosshairs, slapping super-high tariffs on imports from Brazil and India. But this belligerence could backfire writes ROI columnist Jamie McGeever. Chart of the day: The New York Fed's latest survey of household inflation expectations saw the long-term price rise outlook creeping back up to the highest since March, with views over one, three and five years now converging toward 3% - a point above the Fed's 2% inflation target. However, the history of the survey shows consumer views frequently gravitate to these levels over the past decade even before the post-pandemic inflation surge and during periods when actual inflation was much lower. Weekend reads: TRUMP WINNING?: Just over six months into his second term in the White House and amid huge economic policy disruption, Trump looks to be getting what he wants without bowling over the economy, writes former International Monetary Fund chief economist Kenneth Rogoff in a review. How successful those wins prove over the longer run remains far less clear, he argues on Project Syndicate. DATA MANIPULATION COSTS?: Trump's firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief has raised questions about politically-biased government economic data going forward. Council on Foreign Relations fellow Benn Steil gives a glimpse of what studies show about the cost of data manipulation elsewhere in the world. CHINA TRADE AND EU JOBS: Following a recent European Central Bank blog on the impact of rising Chinese imports on European inflation, the ECB's latest bulletin contains a piece on how rising Chinese import competition - partly due to trade diversion from tariffed U.S. markets - might affect European labor markets. While auto and chemical sectors are already affected, it reckons the broader implications might extend to nearly one-third of euro area employment. OFFSETTING 'CHINA SHOCK': America's hit from Chinese competition has only really been felt in Germany since 2020, argues Technical University of Munich Professor Dalia Marin in a VoxEU column. To avoid America's painful de-industrialisation of the 2000s, she says, Chinese market entry in Europe should be made conditional on forming joint ventures with European firms in order to retain global competitiveness. MUSK VS MODI?: Elon Musk's court case against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the Karnataka High Court targets the entire basis for tightened internet censorship in India, one of the biggest user bases of Musk's X platform. As regulators globally weigh free-speech protections against concern about harmful content, Reuters Munsif Vengattil, Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra give a detailed account of this pivotal battle between the world's richest person and authorities of the world's most populous country. Today's events to watch * Canada July employment report (8:30 AM EDT) * St. Louis Federal Reserve President Alberto Musalem speaks; Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill speaks Want to receive the Morning Bid in your inbox every weekday morning? Sign up for the newsletter here. You can find ROI on the Reuters website, and you can follow us on LinkedIn and X. Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. (by Mike Dolan; editing by Sharon Singleton) Sign in to access your portfolio
