-
Nike’s Success
Nike performed well during the last quarter. Business was up in every major market, in 【L1】______, both in its own stores and at 【L2】______.
Overall 【L3】______rose 15% to $8 billion, compared with the same period last year, the company said on Thursday. It was the company’s 【L4】______in the past year.
While the 【L5】______certainly helped, along with a long-awaited improvement to Nike’s China business, one 【L6】______ for the company was that women are 【L7】______ important customers for the 【L8】______.
Nike CEO Mike Parker told analysts on a 【L9】______on Thursday that efforts to cater to women have been a big help like developing 【L10】______ apps and regularly updating the 【L11】______of women’s products.
The Nike + training club app, which 【L12】______dozens of workouts 【L13】______ women, has been downloaded 【L14】______times, he said. And clothing like the sculpt tights for women has sold well.
Another big bright spot for Nike was China, where revenue grew 20% when 【L15】______ are stripped out. For more than a year, the company had been saddled with 【L16】______ in that market after misreading 【L17】______ and selling merchandise Chinese customers didn’t want. In Europe, where Nike has been eating Adidas’ lunch, sales rose 25%.
There are also signs Nike’s 【L18】______will continue. The company noted a 14% hike in 【L19】______, for merchandise to be delivered between now and January, well above the 10% 【L20】______analysts expected, according to Consensus Matrix.Nike’s Success
Nike performed well during the last quarter. Business was up in every major market, in every category, both in its own stores and at wholesale.
Overall quarterly revenue rose 15% to $8 billion, compared with the same period last year, the company said on Thursday. It was the company’s biggest gain in the past year.
While the World Cup certainly helped, along with a long-awaited improvement to Nike’s China business, one key takeaway for the company was that women are increasingly important customers for the sportswear company.
Nike CEO Mike Parker told analysts on a conference call on Thursday that efforts to cater to women have been a big help like developing female-focus apps and regularly updating the selection of women’s products.
The Nike + training club app, which features dozens of workouts tailored to women, has been downloaded 17 million times, he said. And clothing like the sculpt tights for women has sold well.
Another big bright spot for Nike was China, where revenue grew 20% when currency fluctuations are stripped out. For more than a year, the company had been saddled with excess merchandise in that market after misreading consumer demand and selling merchandise Chinese customers didn’t want. In Europe, where Nike has been eating Adidas’ lunch, sales rose 25%.
There are also signs Nike’s hot streak will continue. The company noted a 14% hike in advance orders, for merchandise to be delivered between now and January, well above the 10% Wall Street analysts expected, according to Consensus Matrix.
-
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect
Investors in Hong Kong and Shanghai may now invest in a limited group of securities on either city’s stock exchange. C. K. Chow is the 【L1】______ of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. He called the move “a 【L2】______in the opening of China’s financial markets and an 【L3】______in the development of Hong Kong. “ He said the new way to invest made Hong Kong a 【L4】______between mainland China and 【L5】______.
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect gives investors the ability to 【L6】______ in mainland China. It also permits 【L7】______to buy stocks listed in Hong Kong.
There are 【L8】______, however, to the value and the kinds of stocks that 【L9】______. Investors may trade only a total of 【L10】______dollars worth of stocks each day.
Julian Evans-Pritchard is a China 【L11】______at Capital Economics 【L12】______. He said that “ the move to open the stock exchanges to each other was important. But the 【L13】______of the scheme is not likely to be that big and that is partly because regulators are taking a very 【L14】______ to limiting the 【L15】______ to about one percent of the 【L16】______of each market. “
Mr. Evans-Pritchard says, if the quota is filled, officials may see a reason to increase it 【L17】______and open up the exchange further. What is important is that China is opening up its 【L18】______to foreign investment money, which can come in or go out.
China’s 【L19】______have had limited success in recent years. The biggest public stock offering by a Chinese company, Alibaba, took place on the New York 【L20】______ rather than within China.The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect
Investors in Hong Kong and Shanghai may now invest in a limited group of securities on either city’s stock exchange. C. K. Chow is the chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. He called the move “a breakthrough in the opening of China’s financial markets and an important milestone in the development of Hong Kong. “ He said the new way to invest made Hong Kong a gateway between mainland China and international investors.
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect gives investors the ability to buy stocks listed in mainland China. It also permits Chinese investors to buy stocks listed in Hong Kong.
There are limits, however, to the value and the kinds of stocks that can be traded. Investors may trade only a total of 3. 8 billion dollars worth of stocks each day.
Julian Evans-Pritchard is a China economic expert at Capital Economics based in Singapore. He said that “ the move to open the stock exchanges to each other was important. But the immediate impact of the scheme is not likely to be that big and that is partly because regulators are taking a very cautious approach to limiting the quota to about one percent of the market capitalization of each market. “
Mr. Evans-Pritchard says, if the quota is filled, officials may see a reason to increase it over time and open up the exchange further. What is important is that China is opening up its capital account to foreign investment money, which can come in or go out.
China’s stock market offerings have had limited success in recent years. The biggest public stock offering by a Chinese company, Alibaba, took place on the New York Stock Exchange rather than within China.