Estee Lauder Cos Inc cut its forecast for full-year profit on Thursday, citing an array of political and economic risks including ongoing protests in Hong Kong, Brexit and slowing growth in China.

The UK’s already-fragile consumer confidence fractured further in October with the latest GfK survey showing it’s dangerously close to breaking point and offering no encouragement for the Christmas shopping season.

Just a day after announcing that it was going completely carbon neutral, online retail giant Zalando had more big news on Thursday as it issued its third-quarter results and said that its revenues continue to grow fast.

Switzerland’s Clariant expects its markets to stabilise at a lower level next year, the speciality chemicals company said on Wednesday after reporting weaker than expected earnings and sales in its third quarter.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is eyeing a listing in Hong Kong as early as November to raise up to $15 billion (£11.64 billion), after political unrest in the Asian financial hub put the move on ice earlier this year.

Facebook Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue and profit on Wednesday, driven by a steady rise in advertising. Shares of the company were up about 3% at $194 in extended trading.

The American active and footwear company announced solid revenue and earnings gains for the third quarter on Wednesday, as its Sorel brand saw accelerated growth thanks to strong demand for its fall fashion styles.

Crocs has announced an impressive 20% increase in revenue in the third quarter, progress which drove expectation-beating earnings and led the footwear company to raise its full-year guidance to record levels.

Its’ a busy French moment for AllSaints, even if it’s the ultimate downtown UK brand. AllSaints is debuting a watch collection; a new series of scents and its Shoreditch Ski Club, the latter in Paris' Le Bon Marché.

The German women's ready-to-wear label, acquired by Megha Mittal in 2009, has been struggling in recent years, and has now been sold to US private equity firm Regent, according to reports.

Lindex improved in Q3 and owner Stockmann is mulling strategic alternatives for the chain, but the firm's department stores remain a challenge, although strategy tweaks focused on fashion, beauty and home are under way.

John Galliano has renewed his contract as creative director of the house of Maison Margiela, in a vote of confidence in the controversial British designer by the brand's owner, Italian billionaire Renzo Rosso.

Spoke, a British menswear brand seeking to revolutionise menswear by focusing on fit, has raised £8.5m of new equity capital in a Series B round led by investment firm BGF.

The Prada group has bought the company that operates four of the luxury label’s stores in Milan for €66 million.

Next delivered a fairly brief trading update covering its third quarter on Wednesday and it contained what’s becoming an increasing rarity in the UK fashion retail sector — some good news.