BRBY15 Sep 2011 16:58
UPDATE: Burberry jumps on tax cut rumours
Date: Thursday 15 Sep 2011
LONDON (ShareCast) - Iconic British luxury brand Burberry was leading the surge on the FTSE 100 on Thursday, on speculation that it could see a reduction in luxury goods taxes in a key market - China.
Chinese newspaper National Business Daily has refuelled the debate, reporting that import duties on luxury items may be cut by the end of the year.
However, government ministers still remain divided over whether to adjust their stance, the newspaper said.
While the Ministry of Finance has been reported to have confirmed that it does not want to scale back the tax, Yao Jian, a spokesman from the Ministry of Commerce, said in June that China will cut tariffs in an effort to stimulate consumption.
Last month, Wei Jianguo, the secretary-general of the China Center for International Economic Exchange, said, "Next year will be a critical period for China's trade, as the ongoing debt crisis in the EU and US reduces their demand while yuan appreciation and ever-increasing trade protectionism hit China's exports.”
Burberry said in July that retail sales soared 49% in the three months to 30 June, helped by strong growth in China, with the new stores acquired in the country last year contributing 20% to the total increase in retail sales.