Laura Ashley Holdings Plc , the British fashion and homewares retailer, said it was taking a cautious view on prospects for the second half after posting a 13 percent increase in first-half profit.

Lululemon Athletica Inc , the women's workout clothing retailer, had considered buying U.S.

Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group is still confident about growth in the second half of the year despite the global economic slowdown, the group's chairman Nicolas Hayek was quoted as saying on Tuesday, September 23th.

Italian fashion designer Prada still has its sights on a public offering when market turmoil subsides, its chief executive Patrizio Bertelli said on Thursday, according to a spokesman.

How do you take a 155-year-old raincoat maker with a staid image and transform it into a global luxury fashion and retail force? The answer, according Aquascutum President and CEO Kim Winser, is to market the heritage, modernise the clothes into objects of desire for sophisticated consumers, reach out to international markets and branch into accessories.

By Carolyn Giardina AMSTERDAM (Hollywood Reporter) - DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg predicted on Sunday that all movies would be made in 3-D within "a reasonable period of time" and that 2-D films would be "a thing of the past.

IT Holding said it was in talks with a company represented by Billy Ngok, chairman of China's Hembly International Holdings Ltd , but contrary to media reports it had not been in contact with Hembly or its subsidiaries.

Swatch Group would consider buying a well managed retailer in Europe, the Chairman of the world's largest watchmaker was quoted as saying on Thursday, but he ruled out a takeover of Junghans or investing in Peace Mark.

Italian fashion brand Romeo Gigli has not decided on a successor to Gentucca Bini, who quit as designer on Wednesday little more than a week before womenswear shows, Chief Executive Pierluigi Mancinelli told Reuters.

Buyout firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co [KKR.UL] said on Monday, September 8th it was boosting its team in Japan by hiring the honorary chairman of Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido Co Ltd as a senior adviser.

Beijing opened the Paralympic Games in spectacular fashion on Saturday, an event China's leaders hope will show them in a compassionate light.

Anglo-Dutch food and cosmetics giant Unilever said Thursday that chief executive Patrick Cescau will step down at the end of this year and be replaced by top Nestle manager Paul Polman.

Levi Strauss & Co said on Friday its chief financial officer was leaving the privately held jeans maker to pursue other opportunities, and would be replaced on an interim basis by its corporate controller.

Gap Inc named Tom Wyatt as president of its Old Navy apparel chain, a post he had held on an interim basis, charging him with reviving the casual, lower-cost brand geared to families.

Nike Inc , the world's largest athletic shoe and apparel maker, said on Thursday it named Eric Sprunk to the newly created position of vice president of product.