Fashion group Esprit reports wider first-half loss on brand weakness

• Esprit reported a net loss of HK$1.77 billion (US$225.5 million) for the six months ended December
• The downbeat result includes a HK$924 million loss on provision for store closures and leases
• Shares of Esprit have risen 30.8 per cent so far this year after a 62.74 per cent plunge in 2018