FashionUnited Top 100 Index 12 percent up in H2 2013

The FashionUnited Top 100 Index, the international benchmark index that gathers the 100 largest listed companies worldwide within the apparel and fashion industry, has enjoyed a sweet start of the year. Sportswear has remained king, with four out of the top ten companies within the index belonging to this sub-sector.

 

The international fashion benchmark index comprehends the 100 largest quoted companies within the trade by market capitalisation. In the second half of 2013, the index gained over 12 percent, showing a sustained growth pattern for the period that hints to remain in 2014.

 

In the past six months, the FashionUnited Top 100 has conquered the 1,693 points landmark, up 12.6 percent since July.

 

The FashionUnited Top 100 has also seen an increased market value for the period, as the aggregated market value has risen from 938 billion dollars the first of July 2013 to the 1,042 billion dollars it stood at the first of January 2014.

 

 

FashionUnited Top 100 Index kicks start 2014 upwards

The FashionUnited Top 100 has debuted the New Year in fashion, benefitting from a 12.6 percent increase built up over the second half of 2013.

The steady advance of the index is based in the strong performance delivered by many of the companies that conform the benchmark index, with those belonging to the sports and outdoors category becoming the main engine for growth.

Four out of the top ten top winners for the period belong to this category, with British JD Sports Fashion plc on the foot front after adding 59.07 percent. Deckers Outdoor Corp. saw its value more than doubled, Quiksilver Inc. closed a rocky half by adding 39.72 percent and G-III Apparel Group gained 38.75 percent.

 

Also Chinese companies such as Vipshop Holdings Limited (+106.51 percent) and Metersbonwe (+42.86 percent) substantially contributed to the successful second half of the year for the FashionUnited Top 100 Index.

 

To close the winners chapter, four companies that have made it to the front page in many occasions in the last months: Arvind Limited, one of the last incorporations to the fashion benchmark, has gained 85.84 percent, while successful e-tailer Yoox has closed the year 70 percent up. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (+34.72 percent) and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (+33.77 percent) have been subject to mergers and acquisitions, spicing up the womenswear and menswear niche markets respectively.

 

 

Tough H2 2013 for teen apparel retailers

The FashionUnited index mirrors the general feeling within the industry, leading the decliners main American teen apparel retailers such as Aeropostale, Inc. (-39.99 percent), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (-35.07 percent) and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (-23.68 percent).

 

A shy recovery of the consumer´s confidence coupled with a weak labour market and what has been dubbed as a need to catch up with current trends have been argued to be the reasons for this shared decline.

 

Multi-brand stores and department store operators have also struggled in the second half of 2013, being Marisa Lojas S.A. in Brazil (dropped 20.17 percent) or Francesca's Holdings Corporation (-26.71 percent) a good example of the latter. Struggling JC Penney Company, Inc. has seen its value dented in a 39.18 percent for the period while in India, Pantaloons became the top decliner of index, losing 48.49 percent of its value.