By Neil MacLucas
ZURICH--Swiss watch exports climbed 5.2% on year in August
driven by continuing robust demand from Asia, data released
Thursday by Switzerland's customs office showed.
The value of watch exports reached 1.47 billion Swiss francs
($1.58 billion) in August, up 5.2% in real terms from the same
month a year earlier. In nominal terms, the gain was 12.7%, the
office said.
Swatch Group AG (UHR.VX), Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA
(CFR.VX) and privately held Rolex are the main producers.
Shares in Swatch closed Wednesday at CHF397.90, up 13% this year
to date. Those of Richemont closed at CHF61.15, for a gain of 28%
in the same period.
Write to Neil MacLucas at neil.maclucas@dowjones.com
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