HR Quarterly Round-Up: Kenneth Cole, Liz Caiborne, Hermès

Kenneth Cole 1Q Earnings Rise on Improved Sales (Crain's New York): Kenneth Cole Productions Inc., which makes shoes, handbags and clothes, on Wednesday reported a first-quarter profit, helped by improving demand in all segments.

Liz Claiborne 1Q Loss Narrows On Nonoperating Income Rise (WSJ): Liz Claiborne Inc.'s first-quarter loss narrowed as nonoperating income surged, while same-store sales climbed 15% at kate spade, partly offsetting declines at Mexx and Juicy Couture, the latter posting a 12% drop.
Hermes Shines With Best Q1 Sales of Luxury Sector (Reuters): Hermes posted the biggest surge in first-quarter sales of all European luxury goods companies on Thursday, pointing to a continued polarisation of the market in which well-established brands crush weaker rivals.

HR Quarterly Round-Up: Tiffany & Co., PVH, Hermes

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's

Tiffany Profits Quadruple As Sales Sparkle (Times Online): Tiffany & Co, the New York-based luxury jewellery retailer, said that its fourth-quarter profits more than quadrupled, as high-end shoppers were lured back into its stores over the Christmas period.

Phillips-Van Heusen Returns to 4Q Profit (Business Week): Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. returned to a fourth-quarter profit, the clothing company said Monday, as its revenue climbed more than 6 percent thanks to stronger sales of its Calvin Klein brand.

Hermès lifts operating Profit in Spite of Downturn (Reuters): French luxury group Hermes (HRMS.PA) stopped short of giving an updated forecast for 2010 on Thursday after posting a rise in operating profit for 2009 in spite of the industry's worst downturn in two decades.